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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The quickest way to tell them apart: a stye is a sudden, painful, red swelling right at
the lash line, caused by an infected gland, while a chalazion (eyelid cyst) is a firmer,
usually painless lump deeper in the body of the eyelid, caused by a blocked oil gland.
Both often start with warm compresses, but a stye behaves like an infection and settles within days, whereas a chalazion
can linger for weeks and may need a minor procedure if it does not clear. Here is how to recognise each and what to do.
The Key Differences
| Stye | Chalazion (eyelid cyst) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Infected gland or follicle | Blocked oil (meibomian) gland |
| Pain | Painful, tender | Usually painless |
| Position | At the lash line, near the edge | Deeper in the body of the eyelid |
| Onset | Sudden, red, may have a yellow head | Slower, a firm lump |
| Course | Usually settles within days | Can persist for weeks |
The two are related: a stye can sometimes leave a chalazion behind once the infection has gone. A chalazion is not itself
an infection, which is why antibiotics alone do not usually clear it. The full removal route is in our
guide to chalazion removal.
What to Do for a Stye
A stye usually clears on its own. Apply a warm compress to the closed eye several times a day to bring
it to a head and help it drain, keep the eyelid clean, and avoid squeezing it or wearing eye make-up and contact lenses
until it settles. See your GP or pharmacist if it is very painful, affecting your vision, or not improving after a few
days, as occasionally a short course of treatment is needed.
What to Do for a Chalazion
Start the same way, with warm compresses and gentle massage over a few weeks, which clears many
chalazia. If it does not settle, becomes large enough to blur vision or to be unsightly, or keeps coming back, it can be
removed with a quick incision-and-drainage procedure under local anaesthetic, done from the inside of the
eyelid so there is no visible scar. Whether and when that is worthwhile is covered in
can eyelid cysts go away on their own?
When to See a Specialist
See someone promptly if the lump is painful and rapidly worsening, if there is spreading redness or
swelling, or if your vision is affected. And a lump that keeps coming back in exactly the same spot, or
that looks unusual, should always be assessed rather than simply treated again, because a small number of persistent
eyelid lesions need a closer look.
Common Questions
- How do I know if it is a stye or a chalazion?
- A stye is a sudden, painful, red swelling at the lash line; a chalazion is a firmer, usually painless lump deeper in the eyelid. A stye behaves like an infection and settles in days, while a chalazion can linger for weeks.
- Will antibiotics clear a chalazion?
- Not usually, because a chalazion is a blocked gland rather than an infection. Warm compresses help, and a persistent chalazion is treated with a minor incision-and-drainage procedure.
- Can a stye turn into a chalazion?
- Yes. After a stye settles, it can sometimes leave a firm, painless chalazion behind in the eyelid, which is then managed as a chalazion.
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