Stye & Chalazion Treatment in Southfield, MI

Medically reviewed by Dr. Y. Shira Kresch, OD, MS

A stye or chalazion — a red or firm lump on the eyelid — is one of the most common eye problems we see, and one of the most commonly mismanaged. For a simple, first-time stye, warm compresses are often enough. But when the bumps keep coming back, or a chalazion sits there for weeks and won’t drain, that’s a sign of an underlying eyelid gland problem — and that’s exactly what we treat at the 1-800-Dry-Eyes Specialty Vision Institute in Southfield, MI.

What Are Styes and Chalazia?

Both are lumps on the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland, but they aren’t quite the same thing:

A stye (hordeolum) is an acute, often painful red bump caused by a blocked, infected gland near the lash line. It usually comes on quickly.
A chalazion is a firmer, usually painless lump from a blocked Meibomian (oil) gland that has backed up into a slow, chronic swelling. It often develops after a stye and can linger for weeks.

Not sure which one you have? See our side-by-side guide: stye vs. chalazion.

How We Treat Styes and Chalazia

Warm therapy and lid hygiene

For a new, simple stye, consistent warm compresses and eyelid cleaning are the first step and often all that’s needed — but most people don’t get the heat high enough or hold it long enough to actually work. See how to get rid of a stye.

In-office expression and drainage

For a chalazion that won’t clear on its own, Dr. Kresch can warm and express the blocked gland in-office to release the trapped oil. When a chalazion is large or persistent, a quick minor drainage procedure resolves it.

IPL and radiofrequency — treating the root cause

Here’s what makes our approach different: styes and chalazia are almost always a symptom of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, blepharitis, or ocular rosacea — the eyelid glands aren’t draining properly, so they keep clogging. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and radiofrequency (RF) treat that underlying gland dysfunction directly — clearing blocked glands, calming inflammation, and eliminating the Demodex mites that often drive it. For patients who get styes or chalazia again and again, this is what finally breaks the cycle.

When surgery is needed

A chalazion that doesn’t respond to conservative treatment can be removed with a minor in-office procedure. We always try to resolve it — and prevent the next one — before considering surgery.

Do You Keep Getting Styes?

Recurring styes and chalazia are not just bad luck. They almost always mean the oil glands in your eyelids are chronically blocked or inflamed. Treating each individual bump without treating the underlying gland disease is why they keep coming back. See why you keep getting styes — and why IPL/RF is often the answer.

Explore the Stye & Chalazion Guide

See a Stye & Chalazion Specialist in Southfield, MI

If you have a stye or chalazion that won’t go away — or you keep getting them — Dr. Shira Kresch can treat the bump and the underlying cause. We serve patients throughout Metro Detroit, including Birmingham, Royal Oak, Troy, Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield, and Bloomfield Hills.

Schedule an appointment → | Call 1-800-DRY-EYES →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a stye or chalazion be treated without surgery? Yes — most can. Simple styes usually resolve with proper warm compresses, and chalazia often clear with in-office gland expression and treatment of the underlying gland dysfunction using IPL or radiofrequency. Surgery is reserved for chalazia that don’t respond to conservative care.

How does IPL help with styes and chalazia? Styes and chalazia come from blocked, inflamed eyelid oil glands. IPL clears those glands, reduces the inflammation and abnormal blood vessels that feed it, and eliminates Demodex mites — addressing the root cause so new bumps are far less likely to form.

When should I see a doctor about a stye or chalazion? See a specialist if the bump lasts more than a couple of weeks, keeps coming back, is growing, affects your vision, or is very painful. Recurrent styes and chalazia in particular warrant an evaluation for the underlying gland disease.