Chalazion Stye (Hordeolum) in Downtown Manhattan

What Is a Chalazion Stye?

A chalazion stye, known by its medical term hordeolum, is a tiny lump that appears on your eyelid. It’s caused by a blockage in one of the eyelid’s tiny oil glands, called the meibomian glands. These glands create oil that’s necessary to lubricate your eyes. When a gland becomes clogged, oil builds up, resulting in irritation and creating a chalazion.

Both chalazion stye and regular stye are lumps on the eyelid. A chalazion is normally painless and caused by an oil gland obstruction, but a stye is typically unpleasant and caused by a bacterial infection.

Chalazion stye can occur in two different forms:

1. External stye that affects the outside of the eyelid, where the eyelashes are placed. It typically appears at the base of an eyelash follicle.
2. Internal stye, also known as an internal hordeolum, this type affects the inner region of the eyelid.

If you’re suffering from any type of stye, don’t ignore the discomfort. Seek immediate help from Eye Physicians in NYC near me for or expert care and relief. Their trained optometrists provide specific procedures to treat stye symptoms such as redness, swelling and irritation. With their knowledge and comprehensive approach to treatment, you can be confident in their ability to effectively recover your vision.

They also treat a wide range of conditions, including:

• Gritty eyes
• Nearsightedness (myopia)
• Farsightedness (hyperopia)
• Asymmetrical eyes
• Blurry vision and headaches

What Are Common Signs Associated with a Hordeolum?

A hordeolum and a stye have several similarities in symptoms since they both involve your eyelids. You can only find out which one you have by visiting your NYC eye doctor.

Symptoms that may develop include:

• Swelling and inflammation of the eyelids
• Tenderness and sensitivity, particularly when you touch the bump or blink
• Redness and irritation of the whole eyelid
• Lump or noticeable lump on the eyelid that’s sometimes painful and painless at other times
• Discomfort and general eye pain or irritation
• Blurred vision often accompanied by headaches, which is usually only temporary
• Yellowish crusting and discharge that occurs if the hordeolum is infected
• Light sensitivity, especially to bright lights
• Watery eyes, excessive tearing and wetting

The symptoms of chalazion styes are easy to identify. However, difficulties may occur in certain cases, particularly if the condition isn’t treated or if there are underlying medical issues.

Some potential complications may include:

• It can cause a secondary bacterial infection, leading to increased pain, redness, swelling and perhaps fever.
• Chalazion styes often recur, particularly if you’re prone to eyelid inflammation.
• Severe or repeated styes can cause structural abnormalities in the eyelid.
• If a chalazion presses on the eye or causes significant pain, it can lead to corneal abrasions or ulcers, which can then lead to visual issues if not addressed.

What Causes a Hordeolum?

The most common cause of a hordeolum is a bacterial infection, specifically Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is widely found on the skin and can quickly grow and cause inflammation if it reaches the oil glands of the eyelids.

Certain factors increase the risk of developing a hordeolum, such as:

• Not washing your eyelids regularly can cause a buildup of debris, oil and bacteria.
• Rubbing your eyes with dirty hands can introduce germs into the eyelid’s oil glands, resulting in an infection, which is one reason that children often experience chalazion styes regularly and require a visit to a pediatric eye doctor.
• Using old or infected eye makeup, particularly mascara and eyeliner, can transfer germs into the eyelids, raising the risk of infection.
• Having certain skin diseases, such as rosacea, are more likely to develop a hordeolum as a result of underlying inflammation and oil gland malfunction.
• Suffering from weak immune systems are more vulnerable to bacterial infections.
• Sharing towels and wipes with other people carrying the infection.

Your hordeolum risk increases with eyelid conditions such as blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction, which affects oil gland function. Improper contact lens use can introduce bacteria and foster this infection. Hormonal changes during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause alter oil gland function, increasing hordeolum openness. Maintaining good eyelid hygiene, using proper contact lens care, managing stress, and recognizing hormonal effects can all reduce the likelihood of hordeolum formation.

What Are the Available Treatment Options for a Hordeolum?

A hordeolum is normally diagnosed after a physical examination of the affected eyelid by an experienced NYC eye doctor near me. They examine the eyelid for symptoms of redness, swelling, and a pus-filled lump. The doctor may also ask about symptoms including pain, discomfort, and any recent eye problems. In certain situations, further tests, such as drainage culture, may be used to identify the specific bacteria causing the infection.

Although it often heals itself after a week or so, there are chalazion stye treatments available to ease symptoms and encourage rapid healing.

Your eye doctor may recommend that you try treatments such as:

• Stimulating stye discharge with warm compresses applied to the affected eyelid for five to 10 minutes many times per day to relieve pain and swelling
• Keeping the affected eyelid clean to prevent bacterial buildup, using baby shampoo diluted in water to gently cleanse the eyelids
• Prescribing antibiotic ointments or drops to apply to the injured eyelid to prevent further infection and speed recovery
• Administering a corticosteroid injection into the stye to reduce inflammation and promote healing
• Making a small incision to drain the pus with stye surgery if other treatments don’t work

Symptoms such as swelling, soreness and redness are usually resolved within a few weeks with home remedies and minimal medical care. Early detection and treatment prevent consequences, such as secondary infections or corneal involvement. The severity of symptoms, as well as underlying health issues, may have an impact on recovery. Most people expect a positive outcome after visiting eye health experts at Eye Physicians.

Don’t let a hordeolum affect your vision. Contact the skilled doctors at Eye Physicians in NYC. With their experience, you can feel confident that the best optometrists will properly address your problem.

Page Updated on Jul 3, 2024 by Dr. William Hogue, OD (Optometrist) of Eye Physicians

Eye Physicians
110 Lafayette St, Suite 503
New York, NY 10013
(212) 292-4814

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