If you’ve ever had a painful, red, swollen bump on your eyelid, you’ve had a stye. The professional term for this is a chalazion (KA-LAZE’-EE-ON). The eyelid and even the upper cheek can become quite red and alarming. But unlike a cellulitis that can affect a large area of the eyelids, a chalazion is NOT an infection. Instead, it’s due to a blocked meibomian gland in the eyelid that the body then mistakes for a foreign invader, thus mounting a big inflammatory response.
Because it’s not an infection, stye creams, antibiotic eyedrops and even antibiotic pills won’t help it disappear or become less painful.