Is It A Stye Or Chalazia? Important Facts You Should Know

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of a stye or chalazia is typically made upon an examination conducted by an ophthalmologist. An eye doctor might exam the infected eyelid in one of several ways. The doctor might try pressing down on the eyelid to expel the contents of the meibomian gland. In recent years, tools to help doctors expel the contents of the meibomian gland have been developed, and many ophthalmologists keep them in their examination rooms. Additionally, a doctor might want to test tear production, which involves a minuscule amount of dye being applied to the eye. The procedure is quick and painless.

Treating Styes

For the most part, a mild or average stye can be easily treated with at-home remedies. The easiest method involves applying a hot compress to the infected eye for about ten to fifteen minutes at a time at least a few times a day. This allows the meibomian glands to open up and properly secrete oil. Another treatment is to invest in an over-the-counter eyelid scrub and gently apply it as directed to the infected eyelid. If a stye takes more than two weeks to go away, the individual should make an appointment with their ophthalmologist. Styes rarely take longer than ten to fourteen days to clear up, but those rare few that last longer can be more serious in nature and, therefore, more difficult to treat.