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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. A chalazion is recognised by how it looks and how it came on, and a doctor can assess it by photo and video; draining it or injecting it is done in person.
- What it is: a small, firm lump in the eyelid caused by a blocked meibomian gland, one of the oil glands that keep tears from drying out. It is not contagious.
- How long it lasts: many settle on their own within weeks to a few months with warm compresses and massage, though some take 6 months or more.
- Who gets them: most often adults aged 30 to 50, men and women equally, and people with blepharitis or rosacea.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department for a swollen eyelid with pain when you move the eye, a bulging eye, or a change in your vision.
Do not book a video appointment if your eyelid is very swollen, hot and red and you feel very unwell, it hurts to move your eye, the eye bulges, or your vision is blurred, double or reduced. Call 112 or go to an emergency department.
Can an online doctor treat a chalazion?
Yes. A chalazion is diagnosed from how it looks and how it came on, and a doctor can assess it by photo and video, explain the warm compress and massage routine that settles most of them, and treat the blepharitis or rosacea that makes them come back. You choose what you show on camera. A chalazion that lasts for months, affects your vision or keeps coming back in the same place needs an examination in person, and draining or injecting it is done by an eye specialist.
How an online consultation helps with a chalazion
- Chalazion, stye or something else?: A stye is painful and comes on quickly; a chalazion is firm and usually painless. Infection spreading through the lid, skin lumps and, rarely, a skin cancer can look similar.
- A routine that works: How warm the compress should be, how long and how often to hold it, and how to massage the lump so the gland can drain.
- The cause behind it: Treatment for blepharitis or rosacea, which block the oil glands and make chalazia come back.
- A clear next step: Which signs mean the lump needs draining, an injection or a biopsy, and where to go for it.
What the doctor checks in an online chalazion consultation
The doctor asks about the warning signs first, then about the lump itself. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: a hot, red swelling spreading across the lid, a high temperature, pain when you move the eye, a bulging eye, or blurred or double vision.
- The lump: when it appeared, whether it hurt at first, how big it is, and whether it is growing or shrinking.
- Where it sits: at the edge of the lid near the lashes, or deeper in the lid, and whether it points inwards or outwards.
- The lid around it: crusts at the base of the lashes, red lid edges, bleeding or a sore that will not heal.
- Past lumps: earlier styes or chalazia, and whether one keeps coming back in the same place.
- Your skin and health: rosacea, seborrhoeic dermatitis, pregnancy, contact lenses and the medicines you take.
Before the call, take clear photos in daylight with any eye make-up removed: one of both eyes open, and close-ups of the lump with the eye closed, from the front and from the side. Pull the lid down gently if the lump is on the inside.
What is a chalazion, and what else could the lump be?
A chalazion is a harmless lump caused by a blocked meibomian gland. These glands inside the eyelids make the oily layer of the tears. When the opening of a gland blocks, the oil builds up, and as it leaks into the tissue around it, the lid reacts and forms a firm, round lump. It is usually on the upper lid, and it is also called a meibomian cyst or an eyelid cyst.
Many lumps on the eyelid look alike at first glance. These features help tell them apart:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Lump | What it looks and feels like | How it starts | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chalazion | A firm, round, usually painless lump inside the lid, a little away from the edge | Over days to weeks, sometimes after a stye | Warm compresses and massage; most settle on their own |
| Stye | A painful, red lump on the edge of the lid, often with a yellow head of pus | Over a day or two | Warm compresses |
| Infection spreading through the lid | A hot, red, swollen, tender lid, sometimes with a high temperature | Over hours to days | Urgent in-person care; call 112 if it hurts to move the eye or your vision changes |
| Xanthelasma | Yellow lumps or patches on or around the lids | Slowly, over months | See a doctor, who can check your cholesterol |
| A skin cyst | A small, smooth lump in the skin of the lid | Slowly | Not urgent; see a doctor if it changes |
| Skin cancer of the eyelid | A growth that gets bigger, bleeds, crusts or does not heal, or a lump that keeps coming back in the same place | Slowly, over weeks to months | An examination in person, and often a biopsy |
The eyelid problems page covers swelling, drooping and twitching of the lids, and the stye page explains styes in detail.
What does a chalazion look and feel like?
A chalazion is a small, firm, round lump in the eyelid, usually painless once it has formed. You may notice:
- a lump up to about the size of a pea, usually on the upper lid
- mild soreness, redness and irritation at the start, which usually settles
- a swollen lid, if the lump is large
- a watery or irritated eye
Is a chalazion painful?
Usually not. Many begin with mild pain and irritation that fades as the lump settles into a firm, painless swelling. A lump that becomes red, hot and painful may have become infected, and needs a doctor to look at it.
Can a chalazion cause blurry vision?
A small one does not affect your sight. A large chalazion on the upper lid can press on the cornea, the clear front of the eye, and change its shape, which blurs vision. In one clinical review, the risk rose for chalazia larger than 5 mm. The blur usually clears once the lump goes, and a chalazion that blurs your vision is one of the reasons to have it removed.
What causes a chalazion, and who gets them?
A chalazion forms when the opening of an oil gland in the lid becomes blocked. Doctors do not always know why it happens, but these make it more likely:
- Blepharitis: a chalazion often follows inflammation of the lid edges. See blepharitis.
- Rosacea: people with rosacea are more prone to chalazia. See rosacea.
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis: dandruff-like flaking of the skin and lid edges.
- An earlier chalazion or stye: having had one makes another more likely, and a stye can leave a chalazion behind.
- Rarely, viral conjunctivitis.
Chalazia are common and can happen at any age. They are most common in adults aged 30 to 50, and men and women are affected equally.
Is a chalazion contagious?
No. A chalazion is a blocked gland, not an infection, so you cannot pass it on. It can occasionally become infected, which is when a doctor may suggest antibiotics.
How long does a chalazion last?
Usually weeks to a few months. Many chalazia settle with warm compresses and massage, some within a month, and others take 2 to 6 months or longer. A chalazion sometimes drains by itself while you clean the lid or use a warm compress.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| When | What usually happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The first few days | Mild soreness and redness, sometimes like a stye | Warm compresses and massage, 3 to 4 times a day |
| The first weeks | A firm, painless lump forms | Keep up the routine for at least 4 weeks |
| Up to 6 months | Many lumps soften, shrink and go | See a doctor if it is growing or affects your vision |
| After 6 months | A minority stay as a firm lump | Removal can be considered if the routine has been tried |
| Any time | A lump that keeps coming back in the same place | An examination, and sometimes a biopsy |
Will a hardened chalazion go away?
Often, yes, but slowly. A lump that has become hard and painless can still soften and shrink over weeks or months, especially with daily compresses and massage. If it is still there after 6 months, and you have tried the routine for 4 weeks, an eye specialist can remove it or inject it.
How do you know a chalazion is healing?
It gets smaller and softer, the lid looks less swollen, and any redness fades. Some discharge a little fluid on their own while you clean the lid or use a warm compress, and then shrink.
How do you get rid of a chalazion?
The first step is heat and massage: a warm compress softens the thick oil blocking the gland, and massage helps it drain. Keeping the lid edges clean treats the blepharitis behind many chalazia. Antibiotics do not make a chalazion go away, and it cannot be removed at home.
The warm compress and massage routine
- Wash your hands.
- Soak a clean flannel in hot water: hot but comfortable, never scalding. Wring it out.
- Hold it gently but firmly against the closed eye for 5 to 10 minutes, and rewarm it as it cools.
- Straight afterwards, massage the lump with a clean finger or cotton bud, moving towards the lashes.
- Wipe the edge of the lid with cotton wool or a cotton bud dipped in warm water, with a little baby shampoo if you like.
- Repeat 3 to 4 times a day, and keep going for at least 4 weeks.
Once the chalazion has gone, a warm compress and massage each morning helps stop another one forming.
Can I pop or squeeze a chalazion?
No. Do not squeeze, pop or prick it: let warm compresses and massage help it drain on its own. If it needs draining, an eye specialist does it under a local anaesthetic.
Can you remove a chalazion at home?
No. The home treatment is the compress, massage and cleaning routine above. Removing it is a minor operation done by an eye specialist, with the area numbed.
When does a chalazion need draining?
Most never do. NHS guidance in England, from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, advises removal, by incision and curettage or, for suitable people, a steroid injection, only when a chalazion:
- has been there for more than 6 months, after 4 weeks of warm compresses, lid cleaning and massage
- significantly affects your vision
- stops the lid closing properly or changes its shape
- has caused infections that needed a doctor twice or more within 6 months
- has formed an abscess that needs draining
- could be a cancer, in which case it is removed and examined
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Treatment | How it works | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Incision and curettage | A small cut on the inside of the lid, under a local anaesthetic, lets the contents be scraped out | No stitches; the eye is padded for a few hours; bruising and swelling settle over 2 weeks or so |
| Steroid injection | A steroid, triamcinolone, is injected into the lump to shrink it | No cut; it can lighten the skin around the injection |
| Biopsy | The lump, or part of it, is sent to a laboratory | For a lump that keeps coming back in the same place |
What happens during incision and curettage?
It is a minor operation in an eye clinic. Numbing drops go in the eye, a local anaesthetic is injected around the lump, which stings briefly, and a small cut is made on the inside of the lid to empty it. No stitches are needed. Antibiotic ointment goes in, and the eye is padded. The appointment takes about an hour, and you should not drive home, because the ointment blurs your vision for a while. Bruising and swelling usually settle over about 2 weeks, and any remaining lump can take a few more weeks to go.
Which chalazion treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on how long the lump has been there, whether it affects your vision, and whether anything suggests another cause. This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A new, firm, painless lump in the lid | Warm compresses, massage and lid cleaning, 3 to 4 times a day | Yes | Not usually needed |
| A tender, red lump that came on quickly | Warm compresses, as for a stye | Yes | If redness spreads across the lid |
| Chalazia that keep coming back, with crusty lid edges or rosacea | Daily lid hygiene, and treatment for blepharitis or rosacea | Yes | If one keeps coming back in the same place |
| A lump still there after 6 months, despite 4 weeks of the routine | Referral for incision and curettage or a steroid injection | Partly | For the procedure |
| A large lump that blurs your vision | Referral to an eye specialist | Partly | For an examination and the procedure |
| A lump that bleeds, grows, crusts or keeps coming back in the same place | An examination, and often a biopsy | Partly | Promptly, in person |
| A swollen lid with pain on moving the eye, a bulging eye or a change in vision | Emergency care | No | Call 112 now |
A lump on your eyelid that will not go away? A doctor can tell you in one consultation what it is and what will help.
See available times →Treatment options for a chalazion
What you can do yourself
- Use a warm compress for 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day, then massage the lump towards the lashes.
- Clean the edges of your lids every day, especially if you have blepharitis.
- Leave eye make-up off until the lump has gone, and replace old mascara and eyeliner.
- Wash your hands before touching your eyes, and keep contact lenses clean.
- Take paracetamol if the lid is sore.
- Give it time: keep the routine going for at least 4 weeks.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. A chalazion is not an infection, so antibiotics do not make it go away. If the lump or the lid around it becomes infected, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic ointment or drops, or antibiotic tablets if the infection is spreading into the lid. When chalazia keep coming back, the doctor may treat the blepharitis or rosacea behind them. Draining a chalazion and steroid injections are done in person by an eye specialist. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Squeezing, popping or pricking the lump. Antibiotics for a lump that is not infected. Stopping the compresses after a few days, when the routine needs weeks. Covering the lump with eye make-up.
Special situations
Pregnancy
Warm compresses, massage and lid cleaning are the first treatment in pregnancy too. Tell the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, because it changes which medicines are suitable.
A lump that keeps coming back in the same place
A chalazion that returns in exactly the same spot, especially in an older adult, needs an eye specialist to examine it, because a rare cancer of the eyelid oil glands can look like a chalazion. A sample is taken to check.
Contact lenses and eye make-up
Keep lenses clean and follow the care instructions, leave eye make-up off until the lump has gone, and replace mascara and eye shadow every 2 to 3 months.
A chalazion while travelling in Europe
A chalazion is not urgent and can usually wait until you are home. Keep up the compresses with a clean flannel and hot tap water. A lid that becomes hot, red and swollen while you are away needs a doctor promptly.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When a chalazion is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: recognising a chalazion and telling it apart from a stye or an infection, the compress and massage routine, treatment for blepharitis or rosacea, antibiotics when a chalazion is infected, and deciding when removal is worth considering.
In-person care: incision and curettage, steroid injections and biopsies, a lump that affects your vision or keeps coming back in the same place, a lid that is hot, red and spreading, and any emergency sign.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a swollen eyelid with pain when you move the eye
- an eye that bulges or cannot move normally
- blurred, double or reduced vision, or a change in colour vision, with a swollen eyelid
- a very swollen, red lid with a very high temperature, or feeling very unwell
Get medical advice the same day for:
- redness and swelling spreading from the lump across the lid or onto the cheek
- a lid that is hot, painful and tender
- redness and soreness of the eye itself, not just the lid
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery, with a swollen lid
- a lid so swollen that you cannot open the eye
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about the lump: show it on camera in good light, say when it appeared and whether it hurt at first, and mention earlier lumps, blepharitis or rosacea.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s a chalazion? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Eye styes can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about chalazion
What is a chalazion?
A chalazion is a small, firm, usually painless lump in the eyelid caused by a blocked meibomian gland, one of the oil glands inside the lid. It is also called a meibomian cyst. It is harmless and not contagious.
How do I get rid of a chalazion at home?
To get rid of a chalazion, hold a warm compress on the closed eye for 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day, then massage the lump towards the lashes and clean the lid edges. Keep going for at least 4 weeks. Most settle this way. If one lasts more than 6 months, an eye specialist can remove it.
How long does a chalazion last?
A chalazion usually lasts weeks to a few months. Many settle within a month or two with warm compresses and massage, and others take 2 to 6 months or longer. A lump that is growing, affects your vision or keeps coming back needs a doctor.
Will a hardened chalazion go away?
Often, yes, but a hardened chalazion goes slowly. A hard, painless lump can still soften and shrink over weeks or months with daily compresses and massage. If it is still there after 6 months, despite 4 weeks of the routine, it can be drained or injected by an eye specialist.
What causes a chalazion?
A blocked opening of one of the oil glands in the eyelid. The oil builds up and leaks into the tissue around it, which forms a firm lump. Blepharitis, rosacea, seborrhoeic dermatitis and an earlier chalazion or stye make it more likely.
How can I prevent a chalazion coming back?
Keep the lid edges clean with daily lid hygiene, a warm compress followed by gentle cleaning of the lash line with a lid wipe or diluted baby shampoo, treat blepharitis and rosacea, which block the oil glands, remove eye make-up every night and replace mascara every 3 months, avoid rubbing the eyes, take omega-3 in the diet, and keep contact lenses clean. People who have had one chalazion often get another, and the daily compress is the habit that prevents most.
Is it okay to leave a chalazion untreated?
Usually, yes. Most chalazia go away on their own, and warm compresses help them along. See a doctor if it grows, blurs your vision, becomes red and painful, or keeps coming back in the same place.
What is the difference between a chalazion and a stye?
A stye is a painful, red lump on the edge of the eyelid that comes on over a day or two, often with a head of pus. A chalazion is a firm, usually painless lump deeper in the lid that develops more slowly and can last for weeks or months.
What can be mistaken for a chalazion?
A chalazion can be confused with a stye, an infection spreading through the eyelid, a skin cyst or skin tag, yellow patches called xanthelasma, and, rarely, a skin cancer of the eyelid. A lump that bleeds, grows, crusts or keeps coming back in the same place needs an examination.
Can a chalazion cause blurry vision?
A large chalazion on the upper eyelid can press on the front of the eye and blur your vision. This usually clears once the lump goes, and a chalazion that affects your vision may be removed.
Can I pop a chalazion?
No. Do not squeeze, pop or prick a chalazion. Warm compresses and massage help it drain on its own, and if it needs draining, an eye specialist does it with the area numbed.
When does a chalazion need to be drained?
A chalazion needs draining when it has lasted more than 6 months despite 4 weeks of compresses, lid cleaning and massage, when it affects your vision or the way the lid closes, when it causes repeated infections or an abscess, or when it could be a cancer.
Can an online doctor treat a chalazion?
Yes, usually. A doctor can assess a chalazion by photo and video, plan the compress and massage routine, treat blepharitis or rosacea, and tell you when it needs draining or an examination in person.
- Chalazion, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (UK), accessed 15 October 2026.
- Meibomian cysts (chalazion), Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, patient leaflet GHPI0189_04_24, review due April 2027.
- Chalazia removal, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Evidence-Based Interventions, last reviewed September 2024.
- 1.3 Chalazion (meibomian cyst), NHS Scotland Eyecare Guidelines, accessed 15 October 2026.
- Chalazion, Jordan GA, Beier K. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf, updated 31 July 2023.
- Chalazion, Cleveland Clinic (US), updated 8 January 2024.
- Eyelid problems, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 17 November 2023.
- Blepharitis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 June 2025.
- Orbital cellulitis, NHS Lothian antimicrobial prescribing guidance, Right Decisions (NHS Scotland), reviewed 1 February 2024.
- Non-melanoma skin cancer: symptoms, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 16 September 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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