What is a chalazion? Identification and treatment ... A chalazion is a small, slow-growing lump or cyst that develops within the eyelid. They are not ...Whatisachalazion?IdentificationandtreatmentMedicallyreviewedbyAnnMarieGriff,O.D.—WrittenbyCharlotteLillisonJanuary17,2019SymptomsPicturesChalazionvs.styeCausesandriskfactorsHometreatmentSeeingadoctorSurgeryPreventionSummaryAchalazionisasmall,slow-growinglumporcystthatdevelopswithintheeyelid.Theyarenotusuallypainfulandrarelylastlongerthanafewweeks.Achalazioncandevelopwhenameibomianglandattheedgeofaneyelidbecomesblockedorinflamed.Theseglandsproduceoilthatlubricatesthesurfaceoftheeye.Inthisarticle,welookatthesymptomsofachalazionandthedifferencesbetweenachalazionandastye.Wealsodescribecauses,hometreatment,whentoseeadoctor,surgery,andprevention.SymptomsIntheearlystages,achalazionappearsasasmall,redorotherwiseinflamedareaoftheeyelid.Withinafewdays,thisinflammationcandevelopintoapainlessandslow-growinglump.Achalazioncanappearontheupperorlowereyelid,buttheyaremorecommonontheupperlid.Althoughchalaziaaregenerallypainless,theycancausetheeyetobecomewateryandmildlyirritated.Aparticularlylargechalazionmaypressontheeyeball,whichcanleadtoblurryvision.PicturesChalazionvs.styePeoplesometimesconfuseachalazionwithastyeduetothesimilaritiesinappearance.Astyeisalsoasmalllumpthatcandevelopintheeyearea.Althoughpeopleoftenusethetwotermsinterchangeably,theyrefertodifferenttypesoflesion.Achalazionresultsfromablockedoilgland,whereasastyeindicatesaninfectedoilglandorhairfollicle.However,achalazioncansometimesdevelopintoastye.Therearetwotypesofstye:Externalhordeolum:Theseoccuratthebaseoftheeyelashandusuallyresultfromaninfectioninthehairfollicle.Internalhordeolum:Thesedevelopinsidetheeyelidandtendtoresultfromaninfectioninanoilgland.Themostnoticeabledifferencebetweenachalazionandastyeisthatachalaziontendstobepainless.Astyeisusuallyverypainfulandmaycausetheeyetofeelsoreandscratchy.Othersymptomsofastyecaninclude:swellingoftheeyelidasmallpimple,whichm