Eyebrow

The cornea is the common name for a pathological situation called Hordeolus or chalazion. Both correspond to situations which are similar in their manifestation, but different in their origin.

While hordeolus is due to a bacterial infection of the sebaceous glands of the eyelid and appears on its edge, with slight inflammation protruding often with a yellowish spot in the centre. The pain is more or less intense depending on whether it is located internally or externally. After a few days it releases pus and the matter resolves naturally.

Hordeolus can be external - corresponds to a pinkeye, as it is called in the jargon, and is the most frequent type of hordeolus. In these situations, there can be an infection either at the level of the eyelash follicles, caused for instance by an allergic reaction, or at the level of the sebaceous glands. blepharitisIn these situations, there may be an infection in the sebaceous glands, more specifically in the Zeiss and Moll glands.

Internal hordeolus is similar to the previous one, but it occurs in the inner eyelid due to an infection of the Meibomius glands. It is rare and its clinical picture is more uncomfortable in terms of pain and discomfort for the patient and it is often confused with chalazion.

Chalazion, on the other hand, corresponds to the clogging of the excretory channels of the sebaceous glands, causing obstruction and a more intense and prolonged inflammatory process that leads to oedema (swollen eyelid), localised or of the entire eyelid which is red and painful. In these cases where there is intense oedema it is not possible to see the nodule or cyst formed.

Regardless of whether it is a hordeolus or a chalazion, the signs and symptoms are similar, although the degree of intensity may vary. We can frame the following signs/symptoms:

• Eyelid inflammation, accompanied by local redness and warmth;
• Formation of a rounded protuberance in the eyelid area;
• Pain, more intense in acute phases;
• Discomfort during blinking;
• Foreign body sensation in the eye;
• Tearing;
• Photophobia;
• Sometimes decreased visual acuity especially in cases of very large chalazion.

Although there are no causes directly related to the appearance of a sties or hordeolus, there are some diseases which can increase the risk of it appearing. Among these diseases, we can include blepharitis chronic blepharitis, conjunctivitis conjunctivitis, seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea.

It is important to note that even if it is not a direct cause, poor eyelid hygiene can influence the appearance of a sties.

The differential diagnosis between hordeolus and chalazion is not always easy; a clinical assessment by an ophthalmologist is required.

It is important to make the distinction, as therapeutic attitudes may differ.

The external hordeolus, the most frequent, looks like a small cyst with a point of pus appearing. Most of the time it empties and resolves without any therapy or only the recommendation of warm applications.

Internal hordeolus and chalazion, while the former usually yields to local or general antibiotics in more renitent cases, chalazion often leaves a cyst, because the obstruction does not resolve, which must be surgically removed.

Generally, the treatment of sties It is generally simple to treat the stye, but there are some recommendations that you can apply at home, such as massaging the affected area with lukewarm compresses for approximately 10 minutes several times a day and waiting for it to resolve naturally, as previously mentioned.

In cases of more accentuated infections, the lesion may extend and with the worsening of the clinical picture, it is recommended to be evaluated by your ophthalmologist and it may even be necessary to complement the treatment with oral antibiotics. The need for surgical drainage is rare in these situations, but it may help in the drainage of the hordeolus.

In chalazion the treatment is similar, but as already stated, eventually a cyst forms which will need to be operated on to remove the appearance of the eyelid lump.