Dr. M.J. Bazos, MD
Patient Handout
CHALAZION/HORDEOLUM
About Your
Diagnosis
Chalazia and hordeolums are
lesions that occur in the eyelid and are commonly referred to as
“sties.” These occur when oil glands in the eyelid become clogged,
creating a lump or pustule similar to a boil in the skin. These are quite
common, and patients will often have multiple chalazia/hordeolums during a
several-month period. There are a number of treatments for chalazia and
hordeolums, and they can virtually always be
eliminated.
Living With Your
Diagnosis
The signs and symptoms of a
chalazion/ hordeolum are a painful, swollen lump in the eyelid. After this has
been present for some time, the pain may decrease and patients will still be
left with a rubbery-to-firm lump in the lid. The chalazion/ hordeolum can cause
local pain in the eyelid, pus on the eyeball, and distorted vision. In addition,
these lumps are often cosmetically
unappealing.
Treatment
Approximately
80% of chalazia/hordeolums will resolve during a 4- to 6-week period when
treated just with warm compresses. If there is just a small, isolated lump and
the rest of the eyelid is normal, antibiotic drops and ointments are not
necessary to treat these lid lesions. If, however, the entire lid becomes
inflamed, it may be necessary to use antibiotics. If the chalazion/hordeolum
does not resolve with warm compresses, it can be treated with a steroid
injection. This will often allow the swelling to resolve during the next several
weeks. In African Americans and individuals with darkly pigmented skin, the
steroid injection can cause abnormal lightening of the skin and therefore is
often contraindicated. If the chalazion/hordeolum does not go away with
conservative treatment, then surgical excision can be performed. This is a brief
in-office procedure that can be done under local
anesthesia.
The
DOs
Warm compresses are the mainstay of
treatment for this condition. The more patients use these, the greater the
chance that the lid bumps will go away on their own. To apply the warm compress,
patients should take a washcloth and run it under warm water. The cloth is then
applied for 5–10 minutes. It is best to avoid using very hot water because
this can irritate the sensitive skin around the eye. The water should just be
warm enough so it is comfortable. Patients can apply these compresses four or
five times a day or even more
frequently.
The
DON’Ts
Patients should avoid
directly squeezing or manipulating the lid lesions because this can cause
greater irritation.
When to Call
Your Doctor
You should call your doctor
if the lesions appear to be increasing in size, if pain from the lesions is
worsening, or if the entire eyelid and surrounding skin are becoming red. In
addition, if the lid lesions do not resolve with conservative treatment during a
4- to 6-week period, then they are unlikely to go away on their own. At this
point, either a steroid injection and/or excision could be considered.