Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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Most styes and chalazia can be safely watched for the first one to two weeks with warm compresses — a
stye usually settles in days, and many chalazia clear within a few weeks. Act sooner if a lump persists beyond two to
three weeks, keeps recurring, or affects your vision. Treat it as an emergency if there is spreading
redness, severe pain, vision change, or fever — these point to a spreading infection rather than a simple lump.
This is a decision guide: when watchful waiting is fine, when to book treatment, and when an eyelid bump is genuinely
urgent. If you first need to work out which bump you have, start with our guide to
telling an eyelid cyst from a stye.
The Wait-or-Act Decision
The right move depends less on which lump it is than on how it’s behaving. This table turns that into a simple call.
| Wait and watch | Book treatment | Urgent / emergency |
|---|---|---|
| Painless or mildly sore lump, settling with warm compresses, vision normal, under ~2 weeks old | Persists beyond 2–3 weeks, keeps recurring, is large, or bothers your vision or appearance | Spreading redness, severe pain, vision change, the whole lid swelling shut, or fever |
In plain terms: a new, painless or mildly tender bump earns a couple of weeks of warm compresses; one that won’t shift,
keeps returning, or interferes with vision is worth treating; and anything with spreading infection or a vision change
needs same-day medical care.
A 30-Second Self-Check
Run through these questions to place your lump in the right column above:
- Is your vision affected? Any blurring or a lump big enough to press on the eye → seek care promptly.
- Is the redness spreading beyond the lump onto the lid or cheek? → urgent.
- How long has it been there? Under 2 weeks and improving → keep using warm compresses. Over 3 weeks and unchanged → book an assessment.
- Is it getting worse despite compresses, or coming back in the same spot? → time to treat.
- Do you feel unwell (fever, spreading swelling)? → same-day care.
When an Eyelid Bump Is an Emergency
Genuine emergencies are uncommon but important to recognise. Seek urgent medical care for any of the following, which can
signal that infection is spreading beyond the lump (toward a condition called orbital or peri-orbital cellulitis):
- Redness and swelling spreading across the lid or onto the cheek/forehead
- Pain on moving the eye, double vision, or any change in vision
- The eyelid swelling so much it’s hard to open
- Fever or feeling generally unwell alongside the eye symptoms
- A bump that is rapidly enlarging
Timeframe: How Long to Wait
A useful rule of thumb: give a stye about a week of warm compresses — most settle in that time. Give a
chalazion two to four weeks of consistent compresses and lid hygiene. Beyond three to four weeks, a
chalazion that hasn’t budged has usually formed a firm capsule that warmth can’t drain, and continuing to wait rarely
changes it — that’s the point to consider a steroid injection or a minor removal procedure. Our guide to
eyelid cyst home remedies
shows how to get the most from the waiting period.
What Treatment Involves If You Act
If you decide to treat, the options are a quick steroid injection to shrink a stubborn chalazion, or
incision and curettage — a 15–20 minute procedure under local anaesthetic, usually through the inner lid
so there’s no visible scar. At London Skin Clinic this is consultant-led; the initial consultation is £100
and eyelid cyst removal is £600. The full process is in our
chalazion removal guide, and whether yours is
likely to need it is covered in
do eyelid cysts go away on their own?
Your questions, answered
- How long can I safely wait before getting an eyelid lump treated?
-
A stye can usually be watched for about a week and a chalazion for two to four weeks, using warm compresses, provided
vision is normal and there’s no spreading redness. If it’s unchanged after three to four weeks, keeps recurring, or
affects vision, it’s time to have it assessed rather than waiting longer. - When is an eyelid bump a medical emergency?
-
Treat it as urgent if redness and swelling spread across the lid or face, you have pain on moving the eye, double or
reduced vision, the lid swells shut, or you develop a fever. These can indicate infection spreading beyond the lump and
need same-day medical care. - How long does a chalazion take to go away?
-
Many clear within two to four weeks with consistent warm compresses. Once a chalazion has formed a firm capsule —
usually after several weeks — warmth no longer drains it, and a steroid injection or minor procedure is the realistic
route. A stye typically settles faster, within about a week. - Can I pop a stye or chalazion to speed things up?
-
No. Squeezing or piercing risks spreading infection into the delicate eye area and causing scarring. Warm compresses
are the safe way to encourage drainage; if a lump won’t settle, have it treated properly rather than forcing it. - What causes recurring chalazia or styes?
-
Recurrence is usually linked to underlying lid conditions such as blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction or rosacea,
plus habits like leaving make-up on overnight and rubbing the eyes. Ongoing lid hygiene and treating the underlying
condition reduce how often they come back. - Can an eyelid cyst affect my vision?
-
A large chalazion, especially on the upper lid, can press on the eye and temporarily blur vision by altering the shape
of the cornea. This usually resolves once the lump is treated. Any persistent or worsening vision change with an eyelid
lump should be assessed promptly.
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