Bumps on the eyelid most commonly referred to as styes are actually either a hordeolum or chalazion. A hordeolum is an accute bacterial infection of an oil gland, or Meibomian gland, that lines your eyelid. Symptoms include swelling, redness, and pain to the touch. A Chalazion is a red bump that forms inside the eyelid due to blockage of a meibomian gland. This is an inflammatory process rather than an infection. Some patients will have blurred vision if the chalazion is larger and presses on the eyeball. First line of treatment for both of these conditions includes warm compresses, massage, and oral antibiotics. Typically, if the treatments do not help resolve the issue, a referral for incision and drainage or steroid injections is necessary.
IPL, or intense pulsed light therapy, is now Available as a successful treatment option for styes! The mechanism of action of IPL has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-telangiectatic properties. All of these properties address the inflammatory nature of a Chalazion. After treatment, an acute chalazion, present for less than 2 weeks, can be resolved in 3-5 days. A chronic chalazion, present for more than 2 weeks, may require 2-3 treatments for complete resolution.
IPL therapy now offers patients a medication-free, injection-free, and incision-free approach to treating these bumps on the eyelid! For more information about this treatment call us or schedule an appointment.
