Styes, Chalazion and other lid lumps

Question 1

What are styes?

Answer 1

Infection at base of eyelash

WHAT BUG?

Question 2

How do styes present?

Answer 2

Symptoms:
Uncomfortable eye, unsightly pus

Signs:
Inflammation in anterior eyelid at base of eyelash

Often recurrent e.g. from blepharitis, consider diabetes (as recurrent infection)

Question 3

How do you manage styes?

Answer 3

Reassurance as are self limiting

Heat to lid = hot damp flannel can help get the puss out, as can pilling out eyelash – get pus to drain

Question 4

What are chalazion?

Answer 4

Inflammation of meibomian gland (deeper in eyelid) that produces oil of the tear material

Gland gets blocked as oil solidifies and cant empty

Question 5

How do chalazion present?

Answer 5

Symptoms:
Discomfort, lump

Signs:
Red (initially), posterior lid MORE

Often recurrent (blepharitis)

Question 6

What are some other lid lumps?

Answer 6

Benign: (usually)
Molluscum contagiosum
Papiloma

Serious - requiring referral:
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Keratoaanthoma

HOW TO IDENTIFY THESE?

Basically get advice and refer if you’re suspicious i.e. when a treatment isn’t working