From the Guidelines
A stye or chalazion can typically be treated at home with warm compresses applied to the affected eyelid for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times daily, as recommended in the treatment of blepharitis 1. This helps liquefy the blocked oil and promote drainage. For a stye, which is an infected oil gland, gentle cleansing of the eyelid margins with diluted baby shampoo on a clean washcloth can help remove debris and bacteria. Some key points to consider when treating a stye or chalazion include:
- Applying warm compresses to the eyelids for several minutes to soften adherent scurf and scales or discharge and/or warm the meibomian secretions 1
- Using eye cleaners with hypochlorous acid at 0.01% for their strong antimicrobial effect 1
- Performing vertical eyelid massage to express meibomian secretions 1
- Rubbing the eyelid margins from side to side to remove crusting from the eyelashes 1
- Cleaning the eyelid using diluted baby shampoo or commercially available eyelid cleaner on a pad, cotton ball, cotton swab, or clean fingertip 1 It is essential to avoid using compresses that are too hot, as they can burn the skin 1. Additionally, frequent manipulation of the eyelid should be done with care to avoid leading to further complications 1. If the stye shows signs of infection (increasing redness, pain, or pus), antibiotic ointments such as erythromycin or bacitracin applied to the eyelid margin 2-3 times daily for 7-10 days may be necessary. For persistent chalazia (non-infected oil cysts) that don't respond to warm compresses after 2-4 weeks, medical intervention may be required, including steroid injections or minor surgical incision and drainage. Never squeeze or pop a stye or chalazion as this can spread infection. Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen, vision changes occur, or the bump doesn't improve after two weeks of home treatment. These treatments work because warm compresses increase blood flow to the area and help soften the blocked oil, while antibiotics address bacterial infections that may be present in styes.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Stye or Chalazion
- Application of warm compresses onto the eyelids is a common treatment option for chalazion, which can be used alone or in combination with other treatments such as antibiotic ointment or steroids 2
- Lid hygiene and using local antibiotic ointment with or without steroids are also treatment options for chalazion 3
- Injecting steroid solution (triamcinolone acetonide) into the lesion is another treatment option, as well as surgical removal of the lesion by incision and curettage 3
- Other experimented methods include injection of botulinum toxin A, tarsal trephination, removal of chalazion by application of CO2 laser or cryogenic action 3
Effectiveness of Conservative Therapy
- A study found that hot compresses alone or in combination with tobramycin or tobramycin/dexamethasone drops and ointment are all effective first-line treatment options for chalazia 2
- The study also found that lesions that completely resolved had a statistically significant lower pretreatment duration (1.5 months) compared to lesions that did not completely resolve (2.2 months) 2
- Physicians may consider moving directly to the use of more invasive therapies, such as incision and curettage or steroid injections, for chalazia that have been present for more than 2 months, as older lesions are less likely to resolve with conservative therapies alone 2