{"id":12480,"date":"2026-11-06T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/?p=12480"},"modified":"2026-11-06T14:09:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T12:09:42","slug":"stye-or-chalazion-how-to-tell-them-apart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/2026\/11\/ophthalmology\/stye-or-chalazion-how-to-tell-them-apart\/","title":{"rendered":"Stye or Chalazion: How to Tell Them Apart and When to Treat Them \ud83d\udc41\ufe0f"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You wake up, look in the mirror and see a little red bump on your eyelid. And the usual question comes up: <strong>is it a stye or a chalazion?<\/strong> They look very alike and get mixed up every day, but they are not the same, they are not treated the same way and, above all, <strong>they do not evolve the same way<\/strong>. Knowing how to tell them apart saves you weeks of worry (and more than one home remedy that makes things worse).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/our-clinics\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"446\">Cl\u00ednica Ram\u00edrez &amp; G\u00e1lvez<\/a><\/strong> we see these little eyelid lumps every week. We explain clearly what each one is, how to tell them apart, what you can do at home, what you should never do and when it is time to have an ophthalmologist look at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stye: a small acute infection \ud83d\udd25<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>stye<\/strong> (hordeolum) is an infection of a gland at the edge of the eyelid, almost always caused by the bacterium <em>Staphylococcus aureus<\/em>. It is like a \u201cpimple\u201d on the eyelid: it appears quickly, within a day or two, and it <strong>hurts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pain and tenderness<\/strong> from the very beginning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Localised redness and swelling<\/strong>, often next to the eyelashes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A yellowish spot<\/strong> (like the head of a pimple) that may end up draining on its own.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Watering, stinging and a foreign-body sensation<\/strong> in the affected eye.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure style=\"margin:1.5em 0;text-align:center\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 600 340\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Illustration of a stye: a red, inflamed lump at the edge of the eyelid with a yellowish spot\"><defs><radialGradient id=\"ro\"><stop offset=\"0\" stop-color=\"#d9534f\" stop-opacity=\".75\"\/><stop offset=\"1\" stop-color=\"#d9534f\" stop-opacity=\"0\"\/><\/radialGradient><clipPath id=\"co\"><path d=\"M110,190 Q300,70 490,190 Q300,285 110,190 Z\"\/><\/clipPath><\/defs><rect width=\"600\" height=\"330\" rx=\"18\" fill=\"#f4e3d5\"\/><path d=\"M70,185 Q300,0 530,185\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#d4b49c\" stroke-width=\"3\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M110,190 Q300,70 490,190 Q300,285 110,190 Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><g clip-path=\"url(#co)\"><circle cx=\"300\" cy=\"188\" r=\"58\" fill=\"#6a8fa8\"\/><circle cx=\"300\" cy=\"188\" r=\"28\" fill=\"#1d2b36\"\/><circle cx=\"286\" cy=\"174\" r=\"8\" fill=\"#fff\" opacity=\".85\"\/><\/g><path d=\"M110,190 Q300,70 490,190\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#8c6a55\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M110,190 Q300,285 490,190\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#b99580\" stroke-width=\"3\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M126 180l-9 -18M142 172l-9 -20M158 164l-8 -21M173 157l-8 -22M189 150l-7 -23M205 145l-7 -24M221 140l-6 -25M237 137l-5 -26M252 134l-4 -27M268 132l-3 -28M284 130l-1 -28M300 130l0 -28M316 130l1 -28M332 132l3 -28M348 134l4 -27M363 137l5 -26M379 140l6 -25M395 145l7 -24M411 150l7 -23M427 157l8 -22M442 164l8 -21M458 172l9 -20M474 180l9 -18\" stroke=\"#4a3a30\" stroke-width=\"3\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" fill=\"none\"\/><circle cx=\"224\" cy=\"134\" r=\"62\" fill=\"url(#ro)\"\/><ellipse cx=\"224\" cy=\"132\" rx=\"30\" ry=\"22\" fill=\"#e4766c\" stroke=\"#c9544b\" stroke-width=\"3\"\/><circle cx=\"224\" cy=\"131\" r=\"7\" fill=\"#f7d96b\"\/><line x1=\"189\" y1=\"109\" x2=\"70\" y2=\"48\" stroke=\"#b8924a\" stroke-width=\"2.5\"\/><circle cx=\"70\" cy=\"48\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#b8924a\"\/><text x=\"24\" y=\"36\" font-family=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" font-size=\"19\" font-weight=\"700\" fill=\"#1f3a4d\">Yellowish spot<\/text><line x1=\"249\" y1=\"143\" x2=\"150\" y2=\"300\" stroke=\"#b8924a\" stroke-width=\"2.5\"\/><circle cx=\"150\" cy=\"300\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#b8924a\"\/><text x=\"20\" y=\"322\" font-family=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" font-size=\"19\" font-weight=\"700\" fill=\"#1f3a4d\">Redness and pain<\/text><text x=\"576\" y=\"322\" font-family=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" font-size=\"19\" font-weight=\"700\" fill=\"#1f3a4d\" text-anchor=\"end\">At the eyelid margin<\/text><\/svg><figcaption style=\"font-size:15px;margin-top:8px\">Stye: a red, warm and painful lump at the edge of the eyelid (illustrative drawing).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the infection is at the edge of the eyelid, it is called an <strong>external stye<\/strong>; if it affects a deeper gland (the meibomian glands), we speak of an <strong>internal stye<\/strong>, which usually hurts more and is harder to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chalazion: a hard lump that doesn&#8217;t hurt \ud83e\uddd0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/eye-surgery\/chalazion\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"3331\">chalazion<\/a><\/strong> arises differently. One of the meibomian glands, which produce the oil that protects your tear film, becomes blocked. The oil gets trapped, the surrounding tissue reacts with <strong>chronic inflammation<\/strong> and a nodule forms. It is not an infection, although it can start as one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A firm, rounded lump<\/strong> inside the eyelid, like a small \u201cball\u201d under the skin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It usually doesn&#8217;t hurt<\/strong>, or only bothers you at the start.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It grows slowly<\/strong>, over days or weeks, and can last for months if left untreated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Temporary blurred vision<\/strong> if it is large, because it presses on the cornea and slightly changes its curvature.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure style=\"margin:1.5em 0;text-align:center\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 600 340\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Illustration of a chalazion: a firm, rounded nodule inside the eyelid with no redness\"><defs><clipPath id=\"cc\"><path d=\"M110,190 Q300,70 490,190 Q300,285 110,190 Z\"\/><\/clipPath><\/defs><rect width=\"600\" height=\"330\" rx=\"18\" fill=\"#f4e3d5\"\/><path d=\"M70,185 Q300,0 530,185\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#d4b49c\" stroke-width=\"3\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M110,190 Q300,70 490,190 Q300,285 110,190 Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><g clip-path=\"url(#cc)\"><circle cx=\"300\" cy=\"188\" r=\"58\" fill=\"#6a8fa8\"\/><circle cx=\"300\" cy=\"188\" r=\"28\" fill=\"#1d2b36\"\/><circle cx=\"286\" cy=\"174\" r=\"8\" fill=\"#fff\" opacity=\".85\"\/><\/g><path d=\"M110,190 Q300,70 490,190\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#8c6a55\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M110,190 Q300,285 490,190\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#b99580\" stroke-width=\"3\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M126 180l-9 -18M142 172l-9 -20M158 164l-8 -21M173 157l-8 -22M189 150l-7 -23M205 145l-7 -24M221 140l-6 -25M237 137l-5 -26M252 134l-4 -27M268 132l-3 -28M284 130l-1 -28M300 130l0 -28M316 130l1 -28M332 132l3 -28M348 134l4 -27M363 137l5 -26M379 140l6 -25M395 145l7 -24M411 150l7 -23M427 157l8 -22M442 164l8 -21M458 172l9 -20M474 180l9 -18\" stroke=\"#4a3a30\" stroke-width=\"3\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" fill=\"none\"\/><ellipse cx=\"349\" cy=\"101\" rx=\"40\" ry=\"26\" fill=\"#000\" opacity=\".08\"\/><ellipse cx=\"346\" cy=\"98\" rx=\"36\" ry=\"24\" fill=\"#efcdb6\" stroke=\"#c9a48c\" stroke-width=\"3\"\/><ellipse cx=\"340\" cy=\"91\" rx=\"18\" ry=\"9\" fill=\"#f7e2d1\" opacity=\".8\"\/><line x1=\"375\" y1=\"78\" x2=\"520\" y2=\"40\" stroke=\"#b8924a\" stroke-width=\"2.5\"\/><circle cx=\"520\" cy=\"40\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#b8924a\"\/><text x=\"576\" y=\"34\" font-family=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" font-size=\"19\" font-weight=\"700\" fill=\"#1f3a4d\" text-anchor=\"end\">Firm, rounded nodule<\/text><text x=\"20\" y=\"322\" font-family=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" font-size=\"19\" font-weight=\"700\" fill=\"#1f3a4d\">No redness and almost no pain<\/text><text x=\"576\" y=\"322\" font-family=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" font-size=\"19\" font-weight=\"700\" fill=\"#1f3a4d\" text-anchor=\"end\">Inside the eyelid<\/text><\/svg><figcaption style=\"font-size:15px;margin-top:8px\">Chalazion: a hard nodule that grows slowly and usually doesn&#8217;t hurt (illustrative drawing).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stye vs. chalazion: the differences at a glance \ud83d\udccb<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><\/th><th>Stye<\/th><th>Chalazion<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>What it is<\/strong><\/td><td>Acute infection of an eyelid gland<\/td><td>Chronic inflammation from a blocked meibomian gland<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pain<\/strong><\/td><td>Yes, from the start<\/td><td>Little or none<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Appearance<\/strong><\/td><td>Red, warm, with a yellowish spot<\/td><td>Hard nodule, skin-coloured or slightly pink<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Onset<\/strong><\/td><td>Within 1\u20132 days<\/td><td>Gradual, over days or weeks<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Usual duration<\/strong><\/td><td>1\u20132 weeks<\/td><td>Weeks to months<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Clears up on its own<\/strong><\/td><td>Almost always<\/td><td>Sometimes, but it can become chronic<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An important detail: <strong>a stye that isn&#8217;t fully resolved can leave a chalazion<\/strong>. That is why many people say \u201cmy stye hasn&#8217;t gone away\u201d when, in reality, what remains is a chalazion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to do at home (and what not to) \ud83c\udfe0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What helps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Local heat:<\/strong> apply a clean, warm (never hot) compress over the closed eyelid for 10 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day. Heat softens the oil and helps the gland drain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gentle massage:<\/strong> after the heat, a very delicate massage over the eyelid, towards the lash line, can help empty the gland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eyelid hygiene:<\/strong> clean the edge of your eyelids once a day with wipes or foam made for eyelids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Patience:<\/strong> a stye usually improves in one to two weeks. A chalazion needs longer.<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to avoid<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Squeezing or popping the lump.<\/strong> You can spread the infection to neighbouring tissue and leave a scar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wearing make-up or contact lenses<\/strong> while the problem lasts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Using home remedies<\/strong> (herbal infusions, tea bags, garlic, etc.). They are not sterile and can irritate or infect the eye.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Self-medicating with antibiotic eye drops or ointments<\/strong> without a doctor&#8217;s advice.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When to see an ophthalmologist \ud83d\udea8<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See an ophthalmologist if you are in any of these situations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The lump <strong>hasn&#8217;t improved after 3\u20134 weeks<\/strong> of heat and hygiene.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>You have severe pain<\/strong> or the eyelid swells a lot, turns very red or you develop a fever. It could be an infection that is spreading and needs prompt treatment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your vision gets worse<\/strong> or the lump is large and presses on the eye.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It always appears in the same spot.<\/strong> A lump that keeps coming back in the same place or causes eyelash loss should always be checked, because in rare cases it can hide another type of lesion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It affects a young child<\/strong> or a person with diabetes or a weakened immune system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Episodes are frequent<\/strong>: they are often linked to blepharitis, dry eye, rosacea or insufficient eyelid hygiene.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Treating a persistent chalazion \ud83d\udd2c<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a <a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/eye-surgery\/chalazion\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"3331\">chalazion<\/a> doesn&#8217;t go away with conservative measures, there are simple solutions. After assessing it in consultation, the ophthalmologist may suggest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Medical treatment:<\/strong> heat routines, eyelid hygiene and, in some cases, topical anti-inflammatories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Injection:<\/strong> a small injection into the nodule to reduce inflammation in suitable cases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Minor in-office surgery:<\/strong> under local anaesthesia, a minimal incision is made, through the inner surface of the eyelid when possible, to empty the contents of the gland. It is a short procedure and recovery is usually quick.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, treating the underlying cause (blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye) is what really prevents it from coming back. If you are interested, you can see all the <a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/eye-surgery\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2088\">eye surgery options<\/a> we offer at our clinics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Frequently asked questions about styes and chalazion \u2753<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is a stye contagious?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not usually. Even so, don&#8217;t share towels or make-up, and wash your hands before and after touching your eyelid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can a chalazion go away on its own?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, in some cases it is reabsorbed with heat and patience within a few weeks. If it persists, it should be checked to prevent it from growing or becoming chronic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Will I be left with a scar?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With proper management, normally not. That is why it is important not to squeeze the lump and to have it checked if it doesn&#8217;t improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How can I prevent it from coming back?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With daily eyelid hygiene, removing make-up thoroughly at night, treating dry eye or blepharitis if you have them, and avoiding rubbing your eyes with dirty hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Do you have a little lump on your eyelid that won&#8217;t go away or keeps coming back?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&#8217;t let it slide: <a href=\"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/contact\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"414\">Book your check-up<\/a> at our clinics in Lucena or Torre del Mar and get your eyelids comfortable again. \ud83d\udcc5\u2728<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lump on your eyelid? We explain the differences between a stye and a chalazion, what to do at home, what to avoid and when to see an ophthalmologist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2102,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[141,126,140],"tags":[471,453,187,407,473],"class_list":["post-12480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ophthalmology","category-eyelid-surgery","category-oculoplastic-surgery","tag-chalazion","tag-eye-emergencies","tag-eye-health","tag-red-eye","tag-stye"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12480"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12482,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12480\/revisions\/12482"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ramirezgalvez.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}