A bump on the inside of your eyelid is almost always a chalazion or an internal stye, both caused by blocked oil glands embedded in the eyelid. These glands (called meibomian glands) produce the oily layer of your tear film, and when one gets clogged, a small lump forms on the inner surface of the lid. The two conditions start out looking identical but behave differently over time, and telling them apart helps you decide what to do next.
Chalazion vs. Internal Stye
Your eyelid contains dozens of tiny oil glands that open along the lid margin. When one of these glands gets blocked, oily secretions build up behind the blockage. If bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus, infect that trapped material, the result is an internal stye (hordeolum). If no infection develops, the trapped oil leaks into surrounding tissue and triggers a slow, sterile inflammatory reaction that walls itself off into a firm nodule. That’s a chalazion.
In the first day or two, the two look and feel the same: a tender, swollen spot on the inner lid surface. After that, they diverge. A stye stays painful, turns red, and often forms a visible yellow point where pus collects near the lid margin. A chalazion gradually loses its tenderness and settles into a small, firm, painless lump closer to the center of the eyelid. Because the oil glands are embedded in the stiff cartilage plate of the lid, the swelling usually stays on the inner (conjunctival) side, though larger chalazia can occasionally push outward and become visible on the skin surface.
Other Possible Causes
If you wear contact lenses, the bump may not be a blocked gland at all. Giant papillary conjunctivitis produces clusters of small raised bumps (papillae) on the underside of the upper eyelid. The cause is a combination of allergic reaction and repeated friction from the lens rubbing against the lid. Protein deposits, pollen, or dust trapped on the lens surface make it worse. These bumps are typically smaller and more numerous than a chalazion and come with itching, mucus discharge, and a gritty feeling when you blink.
Less commonly, what looks like a bump can be an epidermal inclusion cyst, a slow-growing, smooth, round, white or skin-colored lump formed when skin cells get trapped beneath the surface and fill with keratin. These are painless and don’t resolve with warm compresses the way a chalazion often does. Yellowish, flat, soft plaques near the inner corner of the eyelid are more likely xanthelasma, which are cholesterol deposits in the skin. These sit on or just under the skin surface rather than on the inner lid lining.
Warm Compresses and Home Care
For a standard chalazion or stye, warm compresses are the first and most effective treatment. Soak a clean washcloth in hot water, let it cool just enough to be comfortable against your eyelid, then hold it in place for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat this three to five times a day. The heat softens the hardened oil plug and encourages the gland to drain on its own.
Published data suggests that roughly 25% to 50% of chalazia resolve this way within one to three months. Styes tend to clear faster, often within a week or two, because the body fights the infection and the abscess drains. While you’re treating it, avoid squeezing or popping the bump. Pressure can push infected material deeper into the lid or spread bacteria to neighboring glands. If you wear contact lenses, switch to glasses until the bump clears.
What Happens If It Doesn’t Go Away
A chalazion that persists beyond a few months despite consistent warm compresses can be drained with a minor in-office procedure. The doctor flips the eyelid, makes a small incision on the inner surface, and scrapes out the contents of the cyst. Because the cut is on the inside of the lid, there’s no visible scar. Recovery is straightforward: you’ll apply an antibiotic ointment for about ten days, avoid heavy lifting and swimming for one to two weeks, and protect the area from sun exposure for a few months afterward. Most people notice a significant reduction in the lump within a few days of the procedure.
For styes that don’t drain on their own, a short course of antibiotic treatment can help clear the infection. Recurring bumps in the same location sometimes point to chronic inflammation of the lid margin (blepharitis), which requires ongoing lid hygiene to keep the oil glands flowing properly.
Signs That Need Prompt Attention
The vast majority of eyelid bumps are harmless, but a few features warrant a closer look. A bump that keeps coming back in exactly the same spot after being drained, one that bleeds easily, or one that causes your eyelashes to fall out in the area around it could signal something more serious, including rare eyelid cancers like sebaceous carcinoma. Other warning signs include a spreading growth that changes color (red, brown, or black), broken skin on the lid that won’t heal, or noticeable thickening or distortion of the eyelid shape. These features don’t mean cancer is likely, but they do mean a biopsy is worth doing to rule it out, especially in bumps that have been present for several months without improvement.