Chalazion vs. Stye: What Are the Differences?

Understanding the differences between a chalazion versus a stye can help you figure out which one you may have. A chalazion is a red bump on the eyelid that develops when there is a blocked oil gland. A stye, or hordeolum, develops where your eyelashes start or under your eyelid. Bacterial infections usually cause styes.

This article will go over the differences between a chalazion and a stye, including the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

How Do You Tell If It's a Chalazion or Stye?

The bumps caused by chalazia (the plural of chalazion) or styes may both look red and swollen, but there are some differences.

Symptoms of a stye include:

• Crustiness on the eyelid margin
• The feeling of something in your eye
• Pain in the affected eyelid
• A pimple-like appearance
• A scratchy feeling in the eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Swelling that usually goes away after three days
• Tearing in the affected eye

Chalazion bumps are usually firmer than that from a stye. They usually grow slowly and may develop over a few months. Often, a chalazion can go away on its own within a few weeks. 

Besides the hard bump, a chalazion may not cause symptoms. If it does, other symptoms of a chalazion include:

• Blurry vision if you have a larger chalazion
• Swelling that affects a larger area around the eye

Chalazion vs. Stye Causes

Here are the different causes of chalazions and styes.

Chalazion Causes

A chalazion is caused by a block in one of the oil glands in the eyelid (Meibomian glands) that provide moisture to the eye. Risk factors for chalazia include:

• Blepharitis
• Rosacea
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Tuberculosis
• Viral infections
• Diabetes, high cholesterol, and other chronic medical conditions

Stye Causes

Most of the time, bacterial infections cause styes. There are two kinds of styes and they have different infection-linked causes:

• External stye. This type of stye appears at the eyelash base. It is usually caused by an infection in the eyelash hair follicle.
• Internal stye. This type of stye appears inside the eyelid. It is usually caused by an infection in a Meibomian gland from your eyelid.

Diagnosis

Having a chalazion or a stye is usually not serious and they do not always need treatment. However, if they bother you, consider making an appointment with a healthcare provider like an eye health specialist.

Chalazia and styes are diagnosed with an examination of the eyelid area. During the exam, a provider will check:

• The appearance of the eyelashes
• The structure of the eyelids
• The texture of the skin near the eyelids

A provider can use a bright light to get a closer look at the eyelids to help determine if it is a chalazion, stye, or something else (for example, a type of cancer called basal cell carcinoma).

A provider will also ask you about any other health conditions that you have, some of which could contribute to the development of a stye or chalazion.

Chalazion vs. Stye Treatment

The treatments for a stye and a chalazion are similar, but not all treatments will work for both eye conditions. Treatments that may help you get rid of a chalazion or stye include the use of:

• Antibiotics. These medications can be used for an infected stye, but not for a chalazion.
• Warm compresses. A warm compress can help promote faster healing for chalazions or styes. Apply a clean washcloth that has been soaked in hot water to your eyelid three to six times a day for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. You can get an eye mask that can be heated.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) products. You can buy products like stye ointment, eyewash products, and medicated pads to clean the eyelids can help treat a stye, but not a chalazion.
• Steroid shots. A steroid shot can lower swelling in a chalazion.
• Surgery to drain the chalazion or stye. A provider can drain a chalazion or stye that is getting in the way of your vision. Do not try to drain it yourself at home as it could spread infection.

If your chalazion or stye keeps coming back, a provider may want to take a piece of tissue from it to look at in a lab (biopsy). This can help rule out a more serious problem like sebaceous gland carcinoma.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

While styes and chalazions do not always need treatment, you should see a healthcare provider if:

• Home treatments are not working or are causing pain. 
• Your eyelids feel hot.
• Your eye is swollen shut or the swelling is getting worse.
• You have pus, blood, or unusual discharge coming from your eye.
• You have vision changes.
• You have other symptoms like a fever.
• You keep getting styes and/or chalazions.

Prevention

If you’ve had one chalazion or stye, you’re more prone to getting them again. Here are a few things you can do to help prevent a chalazion or a stye:

• Avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing your eyes can spread bacteria and lead to irritation.
• Always wash your hands before touching your eyes.
• Do not share towels with someone who has a stye.
• If you get chalazia frequently, ask an eye health provider if you should use a small amount of baby shampoo or an eyelid scrub (a product that gently cleanses the eyelids).
• Throw away old eye makeup. Cosmetics can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Replace your eye makeup every six months or more frequently. Do not share your eye makeup with others.
• Get treatment for infections of the eyelid.
• If you wear contact lenses, clean them according to the recommendations from the manufacturer or your eye health provider. Wash your hands when putting in or taking your lenses.
• Wash your face at night, and remove all makeup before going to bed.

Summary

Styes and chalazia are bumps on the eyelid, but they have some key differences. A stye is caused by an infection and a chalazion is caused by blocked oil glands. Both conditions may cause redness or swelling, though styes usually hurt more. 

You can try home treatments for a stye or chalazion and wait to see if they get better on their own. If the bump is causing pain, affects your vision, or keeps coming back, see an eye health provider for treatment. This could include antibiotics for a stye or steroid shots for a chalazion.