Lump under eye with substantial vision loss

My gf has had what appear to be two styes on her right eye, but they have been there since Christmas; even with warm compressions, they never disappeared.  On her left eye, there is a lump underneath the eye, which could be a cyst.  However, she went to see an opthamologist today, and they told her that it was something like a chalazion, but wasn't exactly one (a bit confusing for a diagnosis). They also said she had 20/20 vision, when she could barely read the third line on the chart, so she disregarded their diagnosis.  

Is it possible for the two bumps on her right eyelid to be styes, even if they have been there for 3 months now?  Also, can the styes or the cyst cause substantial vision loss? She used to be able to always read the seventh or eighth line on the chart, but today she could barely read the third line.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No styes go away realtively soon, hard bumps that stay forever are usually chalazia. Use the searach feature to learn more, go to Google Images to see what they look like.  She may need them removed or injected with steroids.

JCH MD