Internal stye: a lump on the inside of the eyelid explained

An internal stye (internal hordeolum) is an infection of one of the meibomian oil glands that sit inside the eyelid, rather than an eyelash follicle at the edge. You may see little from the outside — just a swollen, tender lid — but turning the lid gently reveals a red or yellow spot on its inner surface.

Symptoms

Tenderness and swelling of part of the lid, a feeling of something in the eye, watering, and sometimes mild blur if the lump presses on the eye. It can be more painful than an external stye because the gland is enclosed in the firm tarsal plate.

Treatment at home

Warm compresses for five to ten minutes several times a day, gentle massage and careful lid hygiene. Never squeeze or try to burst it from the inside. Remove contact lenses and eye make-up until it has settled.

When to get it checked

If it has not improved in a week, if redness is spreading across the lid or cheek, if vision is affected, or if you keep getting them. Because internal styes often leave a blocked gland behind, a firm painless lump that remains afterwards is usually a chalazion and can be removed if it persists — see stye and chalazion treatment.

See a doctor promptly if an eyelid lump bleeds, crusts or ulcerates, causes eyelashes to fall out, keeps growing, distorts the lid, or comes back in the same place. Spreading redness and swelling of the whole lid, especially with fever or pain on moving the eye, needs urgent same-day care.

Seeing Ms Tahmina Pearsall

Ms Pearsall treats recurrent and persistent eyelid lumps, including internal styes and the chalazia they can leave behind.

Ms Tahmina Pearsall is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon who qualified in 1993 and has more than 30 years of experience and over 50,000 procedures performed. She trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital and Addenbrooke's Hospital, and sees private patients at multiple clinic locations, including Harley Street in London. Read her full credentials.

Ms Pearsall sees patients at Harley Street, London and other clinic locations. Patients travel from across the UK, including Brighton & Hove and Liverpool, and from Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

The first telephone enquiry is free — arrange a free initial call to explain what happened and check whether a review is likely to help. A full clinical consultation with Ms Pearsall costs £250. Treatment prices are listed on the pricing page and confirmed in writing after examination.

This article is general information written for patients and does not replace an individual examination.