A chalazion is a small swelling or lump on your eyelid caused by a blocked gland. They’re called chalazia if you have more than one. A chalazion is one of the most common types of eyelid lumps.

Chalazia are most likely to happen on your upper eyelid. However, you can get them on both eyes at once. Chalazia often go away and come back.

Chalazion vs. stye

It can be hard to tell a chalazion from a stye, another kind of eyelid bump that’s caused by an infection.

Styes happen along the edge of your eyelid, sometimes in the base of an eyelash, but chalazia are usually toward the middle of the lid. A stye is more likely to be painful. It also tends to have a yellowish spot at the center that may burst after a few days.

A stye can become a chalazion if the infection goes away and leaves some material stuck in the gland.

Chalazion Symptoms

A chalazion starts with a small area that may be red, swollen, sore, or painful when touched. After a few days, the pain usually goes away, and a bump or lump remains.

You may also have:

• Watery eyes
• Mild eye irritation
• Blurry vision