Swollen Eyelid

[helphubbyeye]

My husband developed a large bump on the middle part of his left eyelid about five months ago.  There is no fluid associated with it, it's just a bump.  It is painful and becoming more so.  Any idea what this could be?  

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

It does sound like a chalazion (the common term is 'stye').  If it has persisted for close to 6 months with no trend towards improvement, the most efficient treatment is surgical drainage, which is a simple procedure that is performed in the ophthalmologist's office.  As a conservative measure he can treat the chalazion with an effective hot compress, which is not a warm washcloth.  Put about 1/2 cup of uncooked plain white rice in a pantyhose foot, tie a knot, cut off the remainder, and you have a rice baggy.  Microwave for 20 - 40 seconds depending on the power of your microwave.  Apply as a hot compress 2 - 3 times per day.  The rice should stay warm for at least 3 minutes - if not, microwave longer.  This may initially increase the tenderness as the impacted secretions liquefy.  You can reuse the same rice repeatedly.

[vegsurf]

I think it's probably a chalazion. They're fairly common. They can be perfectly painless but can also become painful. An eye doctor can take care of it either by excising it out or giving it a steroid injection.