Twitter Post: Styes vs. Chalazions

Introductory Tweet: Styes vs. Chalazions

Tweet 1: If you have ever had a painful, swollen bump on your eyelid that feels bruised when you touch it, chances are, you have experienced what is called a stye. Styes are very common, and are a physical reaction in your eyes to infection.

Tweet 2: Typically, styes arise from infections in your eyelash follicles or tear glands, which are both located at the edge of your eyelid. These infections may be caused by rubbing your eyes or putting in contaminated contact lenses. Styes appear as red bumps, which may fill with yellow pus.

Tweet 3: Thankfully, most styes disappear on their own within a few days or weeks. One thing you can do to speed along the process includes using a moist, warm compress on the area. Above all, do not try to pop the bump!

Tweet 4: Unfortunately, some styes can persist and become progressively more infected. When a stye becomes chronic, it may turn into a cyst on your eyelid. This is called a chalazion, which is caused by a blockage of an oil gland in the eyelid.

Tweet 5: While chalazions appear to be significantly more irritated, they are normally much less painful than styes. However, they are still infections that may require treatment. The cyst may be removed surgically, or may go away on its own!

References:

https://www.ranelle.com/adult-ophthalmology/chalazion-stye/#:~:text=A%20chalazion%20is%20a%20less,eventually%20break%20open%20and%20drain