Styes (Hordeolum) and Chalazia

A Stye Is Really a Glorified Pimple

One of the easiest ways to understand a stye is to think of it as a glorified pimple on the eyelid.

Along the edge of each eyelid are around 40 tiny meibomian (oil) glands. These glands produce the oily layer of your tears, which helps prevent tears from evaporating too quickly.

When the oil is healthy, it is clear and flows easily—rather like olive oil.

However, when the oil becomes thick and sticky, more like toothpaste, it can block the opening of the gland. As oil continues to build up behind the blockage, the gland swells, forming a tender lump known as a stye.

If the inflammation settles but the blockage remains, the lump may become a chalazion, which is usually painless but can persist for weeks or months.

Why Does the Oil Become Thick? Because dry eyes and styes are linked !

Many people think dry eyes mean they simply do not produce enough tears.

In fact, most dry eye disease is caused by poor-quality oil produced by the meibomian glands.

When these glands become unhealthy—a condition known as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)—the oil becomes thicker and more difficult to flow. This not only contributes to dry eyes but also increases the risk of developing styes and chalazia.

Other factors that may increase the risk include:

• Blepharitis

• Demodex infestation

• Ocular rosacea

• Hormonal changes, including menopause

• Long hours of screen use

• Contact lens wear

Why Do Styes Keep Coming Back?

Many patients tell me,

"It gets better... then comes back again."

This is because the gland may partially unblock, allowing some oil to escape, before becoming blocked once more.

The underlying problem is often not just one blocked gland, but unhealthy oil production affecting all of the meibomian glands.

That is why simply treating the lump itself may not prevent another one from developing.

Traditional Treatment

For many years, treatment focused on:

• Warm compresses

• Eyelid hygiene

• Antibiotic ointments when appropriate

These treatments are still useful, particularly in the early stages. Warm compresses can soften thickened oil and encourage drainage, while good eyelid hygiene helps reduce bacteria and inflammation.

However, some patients continue to experience recurrent or persistent styes despite doing everything correctly at home.

A Modern Approach

Today, we aim to treat the underlying cause, not just the visible lump.

One treatment I frequently recommend is Eye-Light®, which uses therapeutic LED light to reduce inflammation and improve the function of the meibomian glands.

As the glands begin producing healthier, more fluid oil, blocked glands can drain more naturally and comfortably.

Because dry eye disease usually affects many meibomian glands—not just the one that has become blocked—improving the health of the entire eyelid can help reduce future episodes as well as improve dry eye symptoms.

Early treatment is often the most effective. It is generally easier to treat a newly developing stye than one that has become large, firm or longstanding.

A Personal Story

This is a treatment that is close to my heart.

When my son Mark was two years old, he developed a recurring stye that came and went for almost a year. On good days, the gland would partially unblock and the swelling would settle. On bad days, it would become blocked again and the lump would return.

We tried warm compresses and antibiotic ointment, but the problem kept coming back.

Around that time, I attended an ophthalmology conference in Europe where I first learned about Eye-Light®. The technology made sense because it focused on improving the health of the meibomian glands rather than simply treating the lump.

After introducing the treatment to my clinic, Mark became one of my very first patients. I told him he was wearing an "Ironman mask," read him a story while the light treatment was being performed, and he happily sat through the session.

His stye resolved, and since then I have treated many children and adults using the same approach.

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing patients avoid surgery for what is, in many cases, a blocked oil gland that can be treated much earlier.

When Should You See an Eye Specialist?

You should seek an eye examination if:

• The stye does not improve after several days of warm compresses.

• It keeps returning.

• The swelling becomes large or painful.

• Your vision becomes affected.

• You have frequent styes together with dry eyes or blepharitis.

The earlier the underlying problem is identified, the more treatment options are available.

Treat the cause, not just the lump-Dr Cheryl Lee

When to see a doctor promptly
Please call the clinic straight away on +65 6235 5833 if:

The whole eyelid becomes red, swollen, hot or very painful
Redness spreads around the eye or onto the cheek
You develop a fever
Your vision changes