{"id":1936,"date":"2026-10-20T08:53:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T08:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/eye-health\/conditions\/lump-on-the-eyelid-sebaceous-cyst-stye-or-chalazion\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T12:58:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:58:49","slug":"lump-on-the-eyelid-sebaceous-cyst-stye-or-chalazion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-health\/conditions\/lump-on-the-eyelid-sebaceous-cyst-stye-or-chalazion\/","title":{"rendered":"Lump on the Eyelid: Eye Stye, Chalazion or Sebaceous Cyst?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- Hero (Photo + summary card) Start -->\n<section class=\"page-hero\" id=\"top\">\n\t<div class=\"phero-inner pad with-media container-fluid\"><div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"phero-left col-12 col-lg-7\">\n\t\t\t<div data-hero-in><ol class=\"crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-health\/\">Knowledge centre<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-health\/conditions\/\">Eye conditions &#038; symptoms A\u2013Z<\/a><\/li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Lump on the Eyelid: Eye Stye, Chalazion or Sebaceous Cyst?<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t<h1 class=\"t64 hero-title phero-title\" data-lines>Lump on the Eyelid: Eye Stye, Chalazion or Sebaceous Cyst?<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"phero-right has-media col-12 col-lg-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"phero-media\" data-hero-in><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"590\" height=\"880\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eyelid-surgery-blepharoplasty.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) illustration\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eyelid-surgery-blepharoplasty.webp 590w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eyelid-surgery-blepharoplasty-201x300.webp 201w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inshort\" data-hero-in><p>A painful, red lump at the edge of the eyelid is usually an eye stye (hordeolum), a bacterial infection that normally clears within about a week. A firmer, painless lump further back in the lid is usually a chalazion, a blocked oil gland that can take weeks to settle. What people call a &#8220;sebaceous cyst&#8221; is usually a different, rarer lump. A lump that grows, bleeds or keeps coming back needs an eye specialist; our eyelid surgeon, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131, assesses these.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<!-- Hero (Photo + summary card) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"what-is-an-eye-stye\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"intro-grid row\"><div class=\"intro-side col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>What is an eye stye?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"copy prose col-12\"><p data-reveal>An eye stye, medically called a hordeolum, is a small, painful lump on the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle or an oil gland in the lid. The NHS describes it as a small, painful lump that usually affects one eye, although several can appear at once. The skin around it is red and swollen, and a yellow spot of pus may show. Your eye may also be red and watery, but your vision should not change.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal>There are two kinds, depending on which gland is infected:<\/p>\n<ul data-reveal>\n<li><strong>External stye (the classic stye):<\/strong> infection of the glands of Zeis or Moll, which sit beside the eyelash roots. It forms at the edge of the lid, at the base of a lash.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Internal stye (internal hordeolum):<\/strong> infection of a meibomian gland, one of the oil glands inside the lid&#8217;s firm inner plate (the tarsus). It sits deeper in the lid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-reveal>On darker skin tones the redness can be harder to see, so go by the pain and the tender lump rather than colour alone.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"what-causes-a-stye-in-the-eye\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"intro-grid row\"><div class=\"intro-side col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>What causes a stye in the eye?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"copy prose col-12\"><p data-reveal>A stye is caused by bacteria, most often staphylococcus, infecting a blocked gland or follicle in the eyelid. The NHS says styes are often caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland, and that you are more likely to get one if you have long-term blepharitis (inflamed, crusty eyelid margins) or rosacea. A 2021 review of eye infections in <em>Clinical Microbiology Reviews<\/em> describes a stye as a painful nodule or pustule of the eyelid usually caused by staphylococcal infection of a gland.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal>Things that raise the chance of a stye or its cousin, the chalazion, include:<\/p>\n<ul data-reveal>\n<li>blepharitis and blocked eyelid oil glands<\/li>\n<li>rosacea, seborrhoeic dermatitis (flaky, oily skin) and eyelid dermatitis<\/li>\n<li>a previous stye or chalazion<\/li>\n<li>diabetes (listed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, AAO, among the risk factors)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-reveal>In a large US study of older adults, blepharitis made a chalazion nearly five times as likely (odds ratio 4.84), dry eye three times (3.0) and rosacea two and a half times (2.50); smoking raised the odds slightly (1.12). Prevention advice from the NHS, covered below, also points to removing make-up before bed and not rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Image + Text (Image left, text right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad split-sec\" id=\"what-is-a-chalazion\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"split\"><div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"split-media col-12 col-lg-6\" data-reveal><div class=\"media\" data-parallax><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blue-eye-close-up.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Close-up of a blue eye\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 50vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blue-eye-close-up.webp 1024w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blue-eye-close-up-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blue-eye-close-up-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blue-eye-close-up-768x768.webp 768w\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"split-copy col-12 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>What is a chalazion?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 lede\" data-reveal>A chalazion is a firm lump in the eyelid caused by a blocked meibomian (oil) gland. It is not an infection. EyeWiki, the AAO&#8217;s clinical encyclopedia, defines it as a chronic, sterile lipogranuloma: oily secretions that cannot get out leak into the surrounding tissue and set off slow inflammation, which forms the lump.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prose\" data-reveal><p data-reveal>Unlike a stye, a chalazion usually starts quietly. The AAO says it is usually not painful, may cause no symptoms at first, and develops farther back on the lid than a stye. Sometimes it follows an internal stye: a Cochrane review notes that an internal hordeolum that does not settle can become a chalazion. MedlinePlus describes the same pattern: the lid is tender, red, swollen and warm at first, and once the inflammation settles a firm, non-tender nodule may remain.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal>If a chalazion grows large enough to press on the eyeball, it can blur your vision, and the AAO lists a lump that affects vision as a reason to see an ophthalmologist.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Image + Text (Image left, text right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a dark panel) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel dark\" id=\"stye-vs-chalazion-vs-hordeolum-how-do-you-tell-them-apart\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Stye vs chalazion vs hordeolum: how do you tell them apart?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>&#8220;Hordeolum&#8221; is the medical word for a stye, so &#8220;stye vs hordeolum&#8221; is one lump under two names. The comparison people really search for, &#8220;stye vs chalazion&#8221; or &#8220;chalazion vs stye&#8221;, is between an infected gland (stye) and a blocked one (chalazion).<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow\"><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\"><\/th><th scope=\"col\">Stye (hordeolum)<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Chalazion<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\">What it is<\/th><td data-label=\"Stye (hordeolum)\">Bacterial infection of a lash follicle or lid gland<\/td><td data-label=\"Chalazion\">Blocked meibomian gland with sterile inflammation (lipogranuloma)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Where<\/th><td data-label=\"Stye (hordeolum)\">At or near the lid edge, at the base of a lash (internal stye: deeper in the lid)<\/td><td data-label=\"Chalazion\">Further back in the lid, away from the edge<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Pain<\/th><td data-label=\"Stye (hordeolum)\">Painful and tender<\/td><td data-label=\"Chalazion\">Usually painless or only mildly tender<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Look<\/th><td data-label=\"Stye (hordeolum)\">Red, swollen, sometimes a yellow pus spot<\/td><td data-label=\"Chalazion\">Firm, round lump; the lid may be a little red and swollen<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Usual course<\/th><td data-label=\"Stye (hordeolum)\">Often settles within a week, sometimes after draining<\/td><td data-label=\"Chalazion\">Often about a month, sometimes weeks to months; may need injection or minor surgery<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Infection?<\/th><td data-label=\"Stye (hordeolum)\">Yes, bacterial; hygiene matters<\/td><td data-label=\"Chalazion\">No, it is inflammation, not infection<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p data-reveal>An <em>American Family Physician<\/em> article on the swollen red eyelid gives the same rule of thumb: a well-defined mass at the lid margin is often a stye, and a mass in the middle of the lid is commonly a chalazion. The NHS adds that a lump that is hard but not very painful is more likely a chalazion. Because an unresolved internal stye can turn into a chalazion, the two often form a sequence rather than separate conditions.<\/p><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a dark panel) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a tinted panel) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel\" id=\"is-a-lump-on-the-eyelid-a-sebaceous-cyst\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Is a lump on the eyelid a sebaceous cyst?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow\"><p data-reveal>Rarely, and the term itself is misleading. DermNet NZ explains that &#8220;sebaceous cyst&#8221; is a common misnomer: the lump usually called by that name is an epidermoid (epidermal) cyst, which comes from the upper part of a hair follicle and is filled with keratin and fatty debris, not sebum from sebaceous glands. A typical epidermoid cyst is a firm, yellowish nodule, often with a tiny central opening (punctum). It is painless unless it becomes infected or ruptures.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal>On the eyelid, &#8220;sebaceous cyst&#8221; is usually a label for one of the lumps below. None of them is a stye or chalazion.<\/p><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Lump<\/th><th scope=\"col\">What it looks like<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Key difference from stye or chalazion<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\">Epidermal (epidermoid) cyst<\/th><td data-label=\"What it looks like\">Smooth, firm, yellowish-white dome in the skin<\/td><td data-label=\"Key difference from stye or chalazion\">Sits in the skin, not in an oil gland; painless unless infected; does not come and go like a stye<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Hidrocystoma (sweat-gland cyst)<\/th><td data-label=\"What it looks like\">Small, clear, painless cystic dome; may worsen in summer with sweating<\/td><td data-label=\"Key difference from stye or chalazion\">Fluid-filled, not firm; usually in middle-aged or older people<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Intratarsal keratinous cyst<\/th><td data-label=\"What it looks like\">A keratin cyst inside the firm plate of the lid<\/td><td data-label=\"Key difference from stye or chalazion\">Deeper in the lid, so it can be mistaken for a chalazion; needs an examination<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Xanthelasma<\/th><td data-label=\"What it looks like\">Flat or slightly raised yellow patches, usually on the upper lids near the nose<\/td><td data-label=\"Key difference from stye or chalazion\">Not a cyst: a fatty deposit in the skin, linked to high blood fats and sometimes thyroid disease or diabetes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p data-reveal>Studies of lumps removed from eyelids show how varied they are. In a hospital series of 35 surgically removed eyelid cysts, the commonest diagnosis was epidermal cyst (16), followed by intratarsal keratinous cyst (5), and none recurred after removal. In a Saudi hospital series of benign eyelid lesions, the commonest was the sweat-gland hidrocystoma, followed by chalazion, skin tag and epidermal cyst. Xanthelasma is the commonest type of xanthoma (fatty skin deposit), typically appearing between ages 35 and 55 and affecting women about twice as often as men, according to a 2024 literature review.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> you cannot reliably identify a lump by looks alone. A stye or chalazion is treated with warmth and time; a true cyst or xanthelasma does not respond to that and needs an assessment, and sometimes removal under local anaesthetic. If your &#8220;stye&#8221; never hurts, never shrinks and has been there for more than a few weeks, ask for an examination rather than waiting.<\/p><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a tinted panel) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Image + Text (Text left, image right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad split-sec\" id=\"how-long-does-a-stye-last\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"split rev\"><div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"split-media col-12 col-lg-6\" data-reveal><div class=\"media\" data-parallax><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-surgeons-reviewing-scans-istanbul.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Eye surgeons reviewing scans together in a diagnostic room\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 50vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-surgeons-reviewing-scans-istanbul.webp 1024w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-surgeons-reviewing-scans-istanbul-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-surgeons-reviewing-scans-istanbul-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-surgeons-reviewing-scans-istanbul-768x768.webp 768w\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"split-copy col-12 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>How long does a stye last?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 lede\" data-reveal>Most styes settle within about a week. The NHS says styes are common and should go away within a week, and a Cochrane review describes the usual course as self-limited, often resolving in about a week as the abscess drains by itself. A stye that lasts longer than a few weeks should be checked; the NHS lists this as a non-urgent reason to see a GP.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prose\" data-reveal><p data-reveal>A chalazion is slower. MedlinePlus says most resolve on their own within about a month, and EyeWiki says an untreated chalazion may clear within weeks to months. Both can come back after healing.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Image + Text (Text left, image right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a light section) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel\" id=\"stye-treatment-what-actually-works\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Stye treatment: what actually works?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\"><p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>The first-line stye treatment is a warm compress and patience. Hold a clean, warm (not scalding) flannel against the closed lid, several times a day. The AAO says this helps drain clogged oil glands. Timings vary slightly between sources, so use the range as a guide:<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow sec-pre-wide\"><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Source<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Compress advice<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\">NHS (stye)<\/th><td data-label=\"Compress advice\">5\u201310 minutes, 2\u20134 times a day<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">AAO (stye and chalazion)<\/th><td data-label=\"Compress advice\">10\u201315 minutes, 3\u20135 times a day<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">MedlinePlus (chalazion)<\/th><td data-label=\"Compress advice\">10\u201315 minutes, at least 4 times a day<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p data-reveal>Alongside the compresses:<\/p>\n<ol data-reveal>\n<li><strong>Do not squeeze, pop or pick it.<\/strong> The NHS warns against bursting a stye or removing the eyelash yourself because it can spread the infection; the AAO gives the same warning for styes and chalazia.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leave out contact lenses and eye make-up<\/strong> until the stye has burst and healed (NHS).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add gentle massage<\/strong> if you like; the AAO says it can go with the compress to help clogged glands drain.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Take pain relief.<\/strong> The NHS suggests paracetamol or ibuprofen.<\/li>\n<li><strong>See a doctor if it is not improving.<\/strong> The NHS says a GP may burst a stye with a thin, sterilised needle, remove the eyelash closest to it, or refer you to an eye specialist.<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"features two row row-cols-1 row-cols-md-2\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\"><div class=\"feat h-100\"><span class=\"feat-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-moon\"\/><\/svg><\/span><h3>How to get rid of a stye overnight<\/h3><p>You cannot reliably get rid of a stye overnight, and no product changes that. Warm compresses started at the first tenderness give the best chance that it drains and settles in days, and the surest way to make it worse is to squeeze it. Be sceptical of anything promising an overnight cure. A Cochrane review found no controlled trials at all of warm compresses, antibiotics or steroids for an acute internal stye, so even the standard advice rests on clinical experience rather than trial evidence.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\"><div class=\"feat h-100\"><span class=\"feat-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-star\"\/><\/svg><\/span><h3>Do antibiotics help a stye or chalazion?<\/h3><p>Usually not. A review of 2,712 patients treated at one US university for a chalazion or stye found that adding an antibiotic to conservative care did not make either more likely to resolve, even though 36.5% received one. Antibiotics are used when an infection is spreading through the lid, which is a reason to be examined, not to self-medicate. The AAO lists antibiotics for infected styes among the treatments an ophthalmologist may use.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a light section) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a dark panel) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel dark\" id=\"chalazion-treatment-when-does-it-need-more-than-warm-compres\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Chalazion treatment: when does it need more than warm compresses?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>Start as you would for a stye: warm compresses, gentle lid hygiene and a few weeks of patience. EyeWiki notes that warm compresses and lid massage help the gland drain and that good lid hygiene may also help. Children often do well with this approach: in a 2024 study of 91 children with chalazia, conservative care alone worked in 85.7% (96.7% of children aged two and under).<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow\"><p data-reveal>If a chalazion has not gone after several weeks, is large, affects your vision or keeps returning, there are two minor procedures, both done under local anaesthesia according to the AAO.<\/p><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\"><\/th><th scope=\"col\">Steroid injection<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Incision and curettage (minor surgery)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\">What happens<\/th><td data-label=\"Steroid injection\">A small dose of steroid is injected into the lump<\/td><td data-label=\"Incision and curettage (minor surgery)\">The lump is drained and its contents scraped out<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Randomised trial (94 patients, after failed conservative treatment)<\/th><td data-label=\"Steroid injection\">81% resolved; average time to resolution 5 days; 92% needed a single injection<\/td><td data-label=\"Incision and curettage (minor surgery)\">79% resolved<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Meta-analysis of 8 trials<\/th><td data-label=\"Steroid injection\">60.4% success after one injection, 72.5% after one or two<\/td><td data-label=\"Incision and curettage (minor surgery)\">78.0% success after one procedure, 86.7% after one or two<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Possible downsides (EyeWiki)<\/th><td data-label=\"Steroid injection\">Skin lightening or darkening, thinning of the fat under the skin, skin breakdown; very rarely, visual loss<\/td><td data-label=\"Incision and curettage (minor surgery)\">Lump can return; removed tissue is sent for pathology<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Best suited to<\/th><td data-label=\"Steroid injection\">Straightforward lumps where no biopsy is needed (the trial authors&#8217; view)<\/td><td data-label=\"Incision and curettage (minor surgery)\">Larger or persistent lumps<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p data-reveal>Results vary widely between studies (success after one injection ranged from 8.7% to 86.7% in the meta-analysis), so your surgeon chooses based on the size, position and age of the lump. EyeWiki advises sending tissue removed from a chalazion for pathology, which leads to the next section.<\/p><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a dark panel) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Image + Text (Image left, text right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad split-sec\" id=\"are-styes-contagious\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"split\"><div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"split-media col-12 col-lg-6\" data-reveal><div class=\"media\" data-parallax><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-iris-illustration-light.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Illustration of an iris on a light background\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 50vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-iris-illustration-light.webp 1000w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-iris-illustration-light-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-iris-illustration-light-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-iris-illustration-light-768x768.webp 768w\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"split-copy col-12 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>Are styes contagious?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 lede\" data-reveal>A stye is a bacterial infection, so treat it with hygiene in mind. The NHS says not to share towels or flannels with someone who has a stye, and not to burst it yourself because that can spread the infection. A chalazion is different: it is a sterile blockage rather than an infection, so there is nothing to pass on.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prose\" data-reveal><p data-reveal>Simple precautions while you have a stye:<\/p>\n<ul data-reveal>\n<li>wash your hands before and after touching the area or applying compresses<\/li>\n<li>use a clean flannel each time and do not share towels<\/li>\n<li>avoid rubbing the eye and then touching your other eye<\/li>\n<li>do not wear contact lenses or eye make-up until it has healed<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Image + Text (Image left, text right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"when-is-a-lump-on-the-eyelid-something-more-serious\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"intro-grid row\"><div class=\"intro-side col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>When is a lump on the eyelid something more serious?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"copy prose col-12\"><p data-reveal>Most eyelid lumps are harmless, but a few are not, and these behave differently from a stye.<\/p><div class=\"list-card\" data-reveal><h3>Get urgent medical help the same day (NHS 111 in the UK, or your local urgent-care service) if:<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list\"><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>the stye is very painful or swollen, your eye is producing pus, your vision is affected, or the infection seems to have spread to the eye or eyelid (the NHS&#8217;s urgent-advice signs)<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>you cannot move the eye normally or your vision changes. These can point to orbital cellulitis, a serious infection around the eye. An <em>American Family Physician<\/em> review notes that orbital cellulitis is marked by changes in eye movement and vision, whereas in the more common preseptal cellulitis these are classically normal.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"list-card\" data-reveal><h3>Think of something else if:<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list\"><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>both lids are itchy and puffy, which can be an allergy (see our guide to <a href=\"\/en\/eye-health\/conditions\/eye-allergies-symptoms-and-treatment\/\">eye allergies: symptoms and treatment<\/a>)<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>the whole eye looks pushed forward rather than just the lid being swollen (see <a href=\"\/en\/eye-health\/conditions\/bulging-eyes-causes\/\">bulging eyes (exophthalmos): causes<\/a>)<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"list-card\" data-reveal><h3>Book an eye specialist promptly if the &quot;chalazion&quot; or &quot;stye&quot;:<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list\"><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>keeps coming back in the same place<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>has lasted more than a few weeks and is not shrinking despite treatment<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>is growing, bleeding or changing colour<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>is making your lashes fall out (MedlinePlus lists lash loss, or a lump that keeps growing, as reasons to seek care) or distorting the lid edge<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><p data-reveal>The reason for the caution is a rare cancer called sebaceous gland carcinoma, which can look like a stubborn chalazion or chronic lid inflammation. A series of 60 patients reported in <em>Ophthalmology<\/em> found that 20% had first been given a diagnosis of chalazion and 25% of blepharoconjunctivitis; the median age at referral was 72 and 73% were women. A 2025 <em>BMJ Case Reports<\/em> article described a sebaceous carcinoma that presented as a chalazion that would not respond to treatment and was diagnosed only on biopsy. Cases like this are uncommon, which is exactly why EyeWiki says a recurrent or atypical &#8220;chalazion&#8221; needs pathology to exclude malignancy.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal>At Laser Istanbul Clinic, a lump that does not behave like a stye or chalazion is assessed by our eyelid surgeon, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131, and, where tumour is a concern, alongside Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer (Do\u00e7. means Associate Professor), who treats ocular tumours.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Process (Step cards: 3 columns) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel\" id=\"how-can-you-prevent-styes-and-chalazia\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\"><div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>How can you prevent styes and chalazia?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"col-12\"><p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>You cannot prevent every lump, but clean eyelid margins and free-flowing oil glands lower the chance of both.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t<ol class=\"steps row row-cols-1 row-cols-lg-3\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Clean your lids daily if you are prone to lumps<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>MedlinePlus suggests a warm compress followed by scrubbing the lash line with a cleansing pad or diluted baby shampoo.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Take off make-up every night<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>and wash your hands before handling contact lenses (NHS advice).<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Avoid rubbing your eyes<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>, especially with unwashed hands (NHS).<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Treat blepharitis, rosacea and dry eye<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>, the strongest risk factors in the data above. If you keep getting lumps, ask whether an underlying lid condition is behind them.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Look after your general health<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>, for example keeping diabetes under control, which the AAO lists as a risk factor.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Process (Step cards: 3 columns) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Image + Text (Text left, image right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad split-sec\" id=\"where-does-eyelid-surgery-come-in\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"split rev\"><div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"split-media col-12 col-lg-6\" data-reveal><div class=\"media\" data-parallax><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"362\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-clinic-interior-istanbul-1024x579.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Calm eye clinic interior in Istanbul\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 50vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-clinic-interior-istanbul-1024x579.webp 1024w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-clinic-interior-istanbul-300x170.webp 300w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-clinic-interior-istanbul-768x434.webp 768w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-clinic-interior-istanbul-1536x869.webp 1536w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/eye-clinic-interior-istanbul.webp 2000w\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"split-copy col-12 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>Where does eyelid surgery come in?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 lede\" data-reveal>A stye or chalazion is not treated with cosmetic eyelid surgery, and most people never need an operation for either. Surgery comes into the picture when the lid itself needs attention:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prose\" data-reveal><ul data-reveal>\n<li><strong>A persistent lump a specialist wants removed:<\/strong> minor lid surgery under local anaesthesia, with the tissue examined in a laboratory.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Other eyelid changes you notice while checking a lump:<\/strong> loose, hooded upper-lid skin, lower-lid bags, a drooping lid, or xanthelasma patches.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Combined planning:<\/strong> if you are already considering eyelid surgery, any lid lump should be examined first so it is not missed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-reveal>Eyelid and oculoplastic surgery at Laser Istanbul Clinic is led by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131 and takes place in a fully equipped, Ministry of Health\u2013licensed operating theatre in Istanbul. If you want to know more about the cosmetic side, see our page on <a href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eyelid-surgery-turkey\/\">eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Turkey<\/a>. A simple stye is something your own GP, pharmacist or optometrist can usually manage; we would never suggest you travel for one.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Image + Text (Text left, image right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- FAQ (FAQ accordion) Start -->\n<section class=\"faq pad\" id=\"faq\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"faq-grid\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-side\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"acc\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item is-open\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a1\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q1\">What is a stye?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q1\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>A stye (hordeolum) is a small, painful, red lump on the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle or an oil gland. It usually affects one eye and often settles within a week. The NHS advises warm compresses and says not to squeeze it.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a2\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q2\">What causes a stye in the eye?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q2\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Bacteria, most often staphylococcus, infect a blocked eyelash follicle or eyelid gland. You are more likely to get one if you have blepharitis, rosacea, diabetes or a past stye or chalazion. Removing make-up at night and not rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands helps prevent them.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a3\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q3\">Is a stye the same as a chalazion?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q3\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>No. A stye is an infection and is painful, usually at the lid edge. A chalazion is a blocked oil gland with sterile inflammation, usually painless and further back in the lid. A stye can sometimes turn into a chalazion.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a4\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q4\">What is the difference between a stye, a chalazion and a hordeolum?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q4\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Hordeolum is simply the medical name for a stye. The distinction that matters is stye (hordeolum: infected and painful) versus chalazion (blocked gland, firm and usually painless). A &#8220;sebaceous cyst&#8221; is different again: usually an epidermal cyst in the skin.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a5\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q5\">Is a sebaceous cyst on the eyelid the same as a stye?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q5\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>No. What is called a sebaceous cyst is usually an epidermal cyst, a slow-growing, firm, painless lump in the skin that does not come and go like a stye. Warm compresses do not clear it, and a doctor can remove it with minor surgery if it bothers you. Have any lump that does not behave like a stye examined.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a6\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q6\">How long does a stye last?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q6\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Most styes settle within about a week, often after the pus drains. If a stye is still there after a few weeks, see a doctor. A chalazion usually takes longer, commonly around a month and sometimes several months.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a7\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q7\">What is the best stye treatment?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q7\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>A clean, warm compress for 5\u201315 minutes several times a day is the standard first step, with good lid hygiene and no squeezing. Avoid contact lenses and eye make-up until it has healed. If it does not settle, a doctor can burst it with a sterile needle or remove the nearest lash.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a8\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q8\">How do you get rid of a stye overnight?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q8\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>You cannot reliably do it overnight. Start warm compresses at the first tenderness, leave the stye alone and give it a few days. Squeezing or piercing it yourself can spread the infection.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a9\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q9\">Are styes contagious?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q9\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>A stye is a bacterial infection, so the NHS advises not sharing towels or flannels with someone who has one, and not bursting it yourself. Wash your hands and use a clean flannel each time. A chalazion is a blocked gland, not an infection, so there is nothing to pass on.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a10\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q10\">Do I need antibiotics for a stye?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a10\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q10\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Usually not. A review of 2,712 patients found no clear benefit from adding an antibiotic to conservative care for either a stye or a chalazion. Your doctor will prescribe one if the infection is spreading through the lid.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a11\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q11\">When should I worry about a lump on my eyelid?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-2e85bf0d-a11\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-2e85bf0d-q11\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Seek help the same day for severe pain or swelling, pus, a change in vision or trouble moving the eye. See an eye specialist promptly for a lump that keeps returning, grows, bleeds, makes lashes fall out or has not gone after a few weeks of treatment, because a rare cancer can mimic a chalazion.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is a stye?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A stye (hordeolum) is a small, painful, red lump on the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle or an oil gland. It usually affects one eye and often settles within a week. The NHS advises warm compresses and says not to squeeze it.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What causes a stye in the eye?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Bacteria, most often staphylococcus, infect a blocked eyelash follicle or eyelid gland. You are more likely to get one if you have blepharitis, rosacea, diabetes or a past stye or chalazion. Removing make-up at night and not rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands helps prevent them.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is a stye the same as a chalazion?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. A stye is an infection and is painful, usually at the lid edge. A chalazion is a blocked oil gland with sterile inflammation, usually painless and further back in the lid. A stye can sometimes turn into a chalazion.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between a stye, a chalazion and a hordeolum?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Hordeolum is simply the medical name for a stye. The distinction that matters is stye (hordeolum: infected and painful) versus chalazion (blocked gland, firm and usually painless). A \\\"sebaceous cyst\\\" is different again: usually an epidermal cyst in the skin.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is a sebaceous cyst on the eyelid the same as a stye?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. What is called a sebaceous cyst is usually an epidermal cyst, a slow-growing, firm, painless lump in the skin that does not come and go like a stye. Warm compresses do not clear it, and a doctor can remove it with minor surgery if it bothers you. Have any lump that does not behave like a stye examined.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long does a stye last?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Most styes settle within about a week, often after the pus drains. If a stye is still there after a few weeks, see a doctor. A chalazion usually takes longer, commonly around a month and sometimes several months.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the best stye treatment?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A clean, warm compress for 5\u201315 minutes several times a day is the standard first step, with good lid hygiene and no squeezing. Avoid contact lenses and eye make-up until it has healed. If it does not settle, a doctor can burst it with a sterile needle or remove the nearest lash.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do you get rid of a stye overnight?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"You cannot reliably do it overnight. Start warm compresses at the first tenderness, leave the stye alone and give it a few days. Squeezing or piercing it yourself can spread the infection.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Are styes contagious?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A stye is a bacterial infection, so the NHS advises not sharing towels or flannels with someone who has one, and not bursting it yourself. Wash your hands and use a clean flannel each time. A chalazion is a blocked gland, not an infection, so there is nothing to pass on.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do I need antibiotics for a stye?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Usually not. A review of 2,712 patients found no clear benefit from adding an antibiotic to conservative care for either a stye or a chalazion. Your doctor will prescribe one if the infection is spreading through the lid.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When should I worry about a lump on my eyelid?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Seek help the same day for severe pain or swelling, pus, a change in vision or trouble moving the eye. See an eye specialist promptly for a lump that keeps returning, grows, bleeds, makes lashes fall out or has not gone after a few weeks of treatment, because a rare cancer can mimic a chalazion.\"}}]}<\/script><\/section>\n<!-- FAQ (FAQ accordion) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Call to Action (Panel) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel grad cta-panel\" id=\"worried-about-a-lump-or-thinking-about-eyelid-surgery\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"cta-panel-inner row\">\n\t<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><div class=\"cta-panel-copy\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>Worried about a lump, or thinking about eyelid surgery?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"t22\" data-reveal>Our eyelid surgeon, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131, can examine a lump that will not go away, and our team plans eyelid surgery for people who want it. Send us your question and photos and we will tell you honestly whether a local doctor is all you need.<\/p>\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><div class=\"cta-panel-side\"><div class=\"btn-row\" data-reveal><a class=\"pill pill-white\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/free-consultation\/\"><span class=\"pill-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"pill-label\">Free online consultation: upload your prescription and scans<\/span><\/a><a class=\"pill pill-line\" href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/4915783739465?text=Hello%20Laser%20Istanbul%20Clinic%2C%20I%20would%20like%20some%20information%20about%20eye%20treatment.%20Sent%20from%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Flaseristanbulclinic.com%2Fen%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"pill-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"pill-label\">WhatsApp: +49 157 8373 9465<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"links-col\" data-reveal><a class=\"link-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eyelid-surgery-turkey\/\">Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Turkey <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Call to Action (Panel) End -->\n\n\n<!-- List (Related pages) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"related-guides\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\"><div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Related guides<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\t\t<ul class=\"pg-links row row-cols-1 row-cols-sm-2 row-cols-lg-3\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><a class=\"pg-link\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-health\/conditions\/eye-allergies-symptoms-and-treatment\/\"><span>Eye allergies: symptoms and treatment<\/span><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow-ur\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><a class=\"pg-link\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-health\/conditions\/bulging-eyes-causes\/\"><span>Bulging eyes (exophthalmos): causes<\/span><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow-ur\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><a class=\"pg-link\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-health\/conditions\/\"><span>Eye conditions &amp; symptoms A-Z<\/span><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow-ur\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><a class=\"pg-link\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-glossary\/\"><span>Eye glossary A\u2013Z<\/span><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow-ur\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- List (Related pages) End -->\n\n\n<!-- List (Sources and medical review) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad tight\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><details class=\"sources\" data-reveal><summary class=\"t22\">Sources for the facts on this page<\/summary><ol>\n\t\t<li>NHS. Stye. https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/stye\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li>American Academy of Ophthalmology. What Are Chalazia and Styes? https:\/\/www.aao.org\/eye-health\/diseases\/what-are-chalazia-styes<\/li>\n\t\t<li>EyeWiki (AAO). Chalazion. https:\/\/eyewiki.org\/Chalazion<\/li>\n\t\t<li>MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine). Chalazion. https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/001006.htm<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017. Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28068454\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017. Acupuncture for acute hordeolum (background on internal and external hordeolum). https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28181687\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>American Family Physician<\/em> 2015. Differential Diagnosis of the Swollen Red Eyelid. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26176369\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Clinical Microbiology Reviews<\/em> 2021. Practical Guidance for Clinical Microbiology Laboratories: Diagnosis of Ocular Infections. https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8262805\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Eye &amp; Contact Lens<\/em> 2022. Efficacy of Care and Antibiotic Use for Chalazia and Hordeola. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35296627\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>British Journal of Ophthalmology<\/em> 2022. Prevalence and risk factors for chalazion in an older veteran population. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33789846\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>American Journal of Ophthalmology<\/em> 2011. Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection versus incision and curettage for primary chalazia: a prospective, randomized study. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21257145\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery<\/em> 2016. Incision and Curettage Versus Steroid Injection for the Treatment of Chalazia: A Meta-Analysis. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26035035\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Journal of Craniofacial Surgery<\/em> 2024. Conservative Treatment of Chalazion in Pediatric Patients. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39287407\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li>DermNet NZ. Epidermoid cyst. https:\/\/dermnetnz.org\/topics\/epidermoid-cyst<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Biomedical Reports<\/em> 2019. Clinicopathological features of cystic lesions in the eyelid. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30675351\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology<\/em> 2013. Epidemiology of benign eyelid lesions in patients presenting to a teaching hospital. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23960994\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Prague Medical Report<\/em> 2025. Eccrine Hidrocystoma of Eyelid Masquerading as Epidermal Inclusion Cyst. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40026163\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Archives of Dermatological Research<\/em> 2024. Examining treatment strategies for xanthelasma palpebrarum: a comprehensive literature review. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/38724802\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology<\/em> 2018. Xanthelasma palpebrarum: a brief review. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29296091\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>Ophthalmology<\/em> 2004. Sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelids: personal experience with 60 cases. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/15582067\/<\/li>\n\t\t<li><em>BMJ Case Reports<\/em> 2025. Sebaceous carcinoma presenting as chronic chalazion. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40086849\/<\/li>\n\t<\/ol><\/details><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- List (Sources and medical review) End -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":1868,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1936","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1936"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1936\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3081,"href":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1936\/revisions\/3081"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}