Stye & Chalazion Treatment on Long Island

A stye is a small, painful bump that develops on or inside the eyelid when one of the tiny oil glands near the base of the eyelashes becomes blocked or infected. A chalazion is a firm, usually painless lump that forms when a deeper eyelid oil gland stays blocked. Most styes resolve with warm compresses at home, but a bump that persists, recurs, or affects vision should be evaluated by an eyelid specialist. At Belaray Dermatology, Dr. Rachel Ellis, MD — a board-certified, fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon — diagnoses and treats styes and chalazia in the office at both Hicksville, NY and Stony Brook, NY.

What Is the Difference Between a Stye and a Chalazion?

Styes and chalazia look similar, but they behave differently and are treated differently.

• Stye (hordeolum): An acute infection of an oil gland at the base of an eyelash or just inside the eyelid. A stye is red, swollen, and tender to the touch, often resembling a pimple or small boil on the upper or lower eyelid. Styes usually develop over a day or two and are painful.
• Chalazion: A chronic, non-infectious blockage of a meibomian gland — one of the oil glands inside the eyelid that keeps the tear film stable. A chalazion is a firm, rubbery lump that is typically painless. It grows slowly and can persist for weeks or months. A stye that never fully drains often turns into a chalazion.

The distinction matters because a stye is treated as an infection, while a persistent chalazion is treated as a blocked gland that may need to be drained. Patients with blepharitis — chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins — are more prone to both styes and chalazia, because inflamed eyelid glands block more easily.

Will a Stye Go Away on Its Own?

Most styes drain and heal on their own within 1 to 2 weeks. Home care speeds this process along:

• Warm compresses: Apply a clean, warm (not hot) compress to the closed eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. The heat softens the blocked oil and encourages the gland to drain.
• Gentle massage: After a warm compress, gently massage the eyelid toward the lash line with a clean fingertip to help express the blocked gland.
• Keep the eyelid clean: Wash your hands before touching your eyes, and avoid eye makeup and contact lenses until the stye has healed.
• Do not squeeze or pop a stye. Squeezing can push the infection deeper into the eyelid tissue and make it worse.

When Should I See a Specialist for a Stye or Chalazion?

Schedule an evaluation with an eyelid specialist if any of the following apply:

• The bump has not improved after 1 to 2 weeks of consistent warm compresses.
• The bump keeps growing, or a chalazion is large enough to press on the eye and blur vision.
• Styes or chalazia keep coming back — recurrent lesions often point to underlying blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction that needs its own treatment.
• Redness or swelling is spreading beyond the eyelid to the surrounding face, which can signal a deeper infection requiring prompt medical care.
• A bump keeps recurring in the exact same spot. Rarely, an eyelid lesion that mimics a recurrent chalazion is something more serious, and an eyelid specialist can biopsy it when indicated.

How Are Styes and Chalazia Treated in the Office?

Dr. Rachel Ellis emphasizes minimally invasive treatments that deliver maximum results, providing care from the initial consultation through advanced treatment when necessary. In-office options at Belaray Dermatology include:

• Incision and drainage: A persistent chalazion is drained through a small incision, usually on the inside surface of the eyelid so there is no visible skin scar. The eyelid is numbed with local anesthetic, the procedure takes only minutes, and patients return home the same day.
• Steroid injection: For select chalazia, a small steroid injection into the lesion reduces inflammation and shrinks the lump without an incision. Your surgeon will advise whether injection, drainage, or both is the right approach for your eyelid.
• Prescription medication: An infected stye that is not responding to compresses may be treated with antibiotic ointment or, in more significant infections, oral antibiotics.
• Treating the underlying cause: Patients with recurrent styes or chalazia are evaluated for blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction. Managing the eyelid inflammation — including light-based IPL/BBL therapy where appropriate — helps prevent new lesions from forming.

Why See an Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon for an Eyelid Bump?

The eyelid is a delicate, highly functional structure, and procedures near the eye demand surgical precision. Dr. Rachel Ellis, MD is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and fellowship-trained in oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Her practice at Belaray Dermatology covers the full range of eyelid conditions — from styes and chalazia to blepharoplasty and functional eyelid surgery, ptosis repair, and post-Mohs eyelid reconstruction. That depth of eyelid expertise means a bump on your eyelid is diagnosed accurately and treated with techniques that protect both the function and the appearance of the lid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a stye go away on its own?

Most styes drain and heal on their own within 1 to 2 weeks, especially with warm compresses applied several times a day. If a stye persists beyond 2 weeks, keeps growing, or affects your vision, it should be evaluated by an eyelid specialist. Never squeeze or pop a stye, because that can spread the infection deeper into the eyelid.

What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?

A stye is a painful, red, infected bump at the base of an eyelash or inside the eyelid, caused by a blocked or infected oil gland. A chalazion is a firm, usually painless lump that forms when a blocked meibomian oil gland deeper in the eyelid becomes inflamed. A stye that does not fully drain often turns into a chalazion.

When should I see a doctor for a stye?

See a specialist if a stye does not improve after 1 to 2 weeks of warm compresses, keeps coming back, interferes with your vision, or is accompanied by spreading redness or swelling of the eyelid or face. Recurrent bumps in the same spot should always be examined to rule out other eyelid conditions.

How is a chalazion removed?

A chalazion that does not resolve with warm compresses can be treated in the office with incision and drainage. The eyelid is numbed with local anesthetic, and the blocked gland is drained through a small opening, usually on the inside of the eyelid so there is no visible scar. In select cases, a steroid injection into the chalazion is used instead of or alongside drainage. The visit is short and patients go home the same day.

Are styes contagious?

Styes are only mildly contagious. The bacteria involved can transfer on hands, towels, or pillowcases, so wash your hands after touching your eyelids and avoid sharing towels or eye makeup while a stye is healing. Casual contact with other people does not spread a stye.