Coping With Eyelid Problems

Most issues with your eyelids are not serious and are easily treatable

- Dr Gill Jenkins

The commonest eyelid problems are lumps on your eyelid, or an eyelid that is swollen, sticky, itchy, drooping or twitching. Many will settle or go away without treatment within three to four weeks.

The most common lumps in the eyelid are styes and chalazions (meibomian cysts).

A stye is often caused by bacteria infection of an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland. It’s a small, painful lump on or inside the eyelid or around the eye, filled with pus, like a pimple. The skin around the stye may be swollen and red, and harder to see on brown and black skin. Your eye may be red and watery, but vision should not be affected.

To reduce swelling and help the stye heal, soak a clean flannel in warm water and hold it against your eye for five to 10 minutes – repeat this three or four times a day. Don’t try to burst a stye or remove an eyelash yourself, as this can spread the infection. If it persists, you may need antibiotic cream. Avoid wearing contact lenses and eye make-up until it has burst and healed. Don’t share your towels or flannels, and don’t rub your eyes without washing your hands first.

A chalazion is a common condition in which a small lump or cyst develops in the eyelid due to a blocked oil gland. They can occur following inflammation around the opening of the oil glands just behind your eyelashes. This is called blepharitis – mildly itchy, flaky or sticky red eyelids – and it usually clears up by itself.

Other causes of generalised lid swelling include insect bites or injuries. Hay fever also commonly causes bilateral swelling.

Yellow lumps in the skin of the eyelids are called xanthelasma, and are sometimes caused by high cholesterol, so it’s worth getting your doctor to check.