Eyelid conditions
Diagnosis and treatment of blepharitis, styes, chalazion, and other eyelid conditions.
Eyelid conditions look alike — redness, swelling, itching, or a lump at the lid margin — but their causes and their treatment differ, and one often leads to another. The examination establishes which of them you have, and treatment follows from that.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins, often linked to meibomian gland dysfunction. It causes irritation, redness, crusting, and fluctuating discomfort.
Symptoms
Blepharitis most often shows itself through:
- burning and itching;
- a foreign-body sensation;
- redness of the eyelid margins;
- crusts at the eyelashes;
- watery eyes.
Why blepharitis treatment is long-term
Blepharitis usually requires ongoing control rather than a one-time treatment. Consistent lid hygiene reduces flare-ups and helps stabilize the tear film.
Treatment
Treatment is chosen individually and may include:
- lid hygiene;
- warm compresses;
- gentle massage;
- targeted therapy when infection, allergy, or demodex infestation is suspected;
- dry eye management when present.
Stye (hordeolum)
A stye is an acute, painful eyelid infection that usually improves with proper care within 10–14 days.
Do not squeeze it. This can spread infection and cause serious complications.
Chalazion
A chalazion is a typically painless eyelid lump caused by blockage of a meibomian gland. It is inflammatory rather than an acute infection.
In our clinic, we do not perform chalazion surgery, but we can discuss conservative care and, in selected cases, steroid injection as a non-surgical option.
Book an eyelid evaluation
If you notice a painful swelling or a lump on your eyelid, have it assessed by an ophthalmologist at Dr. Ali Acu centrs rather than treating it yourself.
