Stye/Chalazion Relief: Your Question Answered - Guidance for Stubborn Eyelid Issues

 

Question: "Hi! I've been struggling with a stye/chalazion on my upper left eyelid since September (6 months). My doctor diagnosed me with blepharitis and I even got it drained and its still there any recommendations? "

Hello, I'm Dr. Tanya Gill, OD, and I understand how frustrating it can be to struggle with a stye or chalazion, especially when it lingers for months. Here is my mental checklist I go through when examining cases like this. Of course, every case is different, but hopefully this list can help you be more prepared before you see your optometrist in real life. 

 

FIRST CONSIDERATION - The Diagnosis

 

 

The diagnosis and getting a solid case history is key. First off, is it a chalazion? After 6 months, an infective stye will not longer be infective and it becomes a sterile clogged gland - a chalazion. So here, no oral or topical antibiotics are needed. There are some exceptions to the antibiotics, but that's a blog post for a different day.

 

 

NEXT UP - The Blepharitis

 

 

Blepharitis is a very broad, general term for inflammation of the eyelid. There can be soooo many reasons for the inflammation. Each reason has a different eye care routine / treatment plan. Here I like to separate out: is it ANTERIOR BLEPHARITIS or is it POSTERIOR BLEPHARITIS?

In cases with stye / chalazion flare up - super high likelihood of POSTERIOR BLEPHARITIS. During the eye exam, I use my slit lamp to verify.

 

 

 

PERSISTENT AFTER SURGERY

 

 

When patients say they had a chalazion drained, they usually mean surgically drained. After 6 weeks of healing time, sometimes a small bump will remain.

• Incomplete Drainage: Very normal and common. Use Focused Eye Roll for active, rolling compression 1-4X a day to break up that residual debris. Each session is 30 seconds. Heat the roller under hot water. The roller works to soften and break up the leftover debris. This can take weeks to months to resolve. It's a slow process.
  
• Persistent Blepharitis: Surgery addresses the flare up site, but does not address the underlying cause. If it's POSTERIOR BLEPHARITIS - use my MGD Cleansing System daily to finish cleaning the residual debris and cleaning the eyelids to prevent future flare ups.
• Infection: If there is redness, pain, yellow or greenish discharge, and/or fever - an infection is extremely likely. Here oral and topical antibiotics are needed.
• Scar Tissue: A risk of surgery is the formation of scar tissue at the incision / drainage site. This unfortunately is permanent and cannot be helped. So sorry.
• SGC: If even after surgery, a chalazion reappears in the SAME EXACT LOCATION more than 2x, Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma needs to be ruled out by your optometrist. Although super, super rare - I always remain paranoid and prudent about SGC.

 

Do Not Sit on Your Hands

 

 

Always trust your gut. If it doesn't seem right, you are right until your optometrist can offer guidance. Here are some tips:

• Email / call your optometrist to start the conversation.
• A unresponsive chalazion can be sebaceous gland carcinoma. Biopsy needed.
• Surgery does NOT fix blepharitis. It only removes the chalazion.
• Should wear sunglasses regardless, but with eyelid scars - always wear sunglasses outside. Even overcast days.
• Follow-up Appointments: Don't disappear. See your optometrist to follow up on the blepharitis and the status of the residual debris to adjust your eye care routine if needed.

Remember, each case is unique and requires a personalized approach. These guidelines are meant to support your recovery, but they are not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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About Dr. Tanya Gill, OD:

 Dr. Tanya Gill is the Founder of We Love Eyes and a seasoned optometrist passionate about delivering healthy eye care. With 20+ years of experience in managing complex eyelid conditions, she offers tailored solutions to help you achieve optimal eye health at home. Find your eye problem at the corresponding eye care routine at We Love Eyes. In the search bar, you can look up your eye problem and pull up blog posts on topics such as blepharitis, dry eyes, demodex mites, and more.