Stye and Chalazior
Hordeolum and Chalazion (Latin name)By Bjarne Lühr Hansen PhD, MD and Philipp Skafte-Holm MD, Mentor Institute
A stye is an inflammation in one of the eyelashes follicles or in a sebaceous gland in the eyelid.
A chalazion is a small chronic lump of scar tissue after a stye.
Sties occur relatively frequently with both children and adults. Chalazions are more rare. Stye appears as a red, sore, warm lump with swelling in the eyelid. After some days the stye can burst and the inflammation will then leak. The inflammation is easily treated with an ointment with antibiotics that often is necessary.
Sties contain bacteria and can be transferred with the fingers from one eye to the other or from one person to another. Therefore, remember to wash your hands frequently, if you have a stye. The stye can from time to time develop into a chalazion that is a little bigger, hard lump on the inside of the eyelid or on the margin of the eyelid. A chalazion is not painful but can irritate the eye. A chalazion can be removed by a small surgical procedure with local anaesthesia.