Lump on the eyelid: the common causes, and when to worry

Eyelid lumps are very common and the vast majority are benign. Knowing the usual types helps you decide whether to wait, treat at home, or get it looked at.

Painful, red lump that appeared quickly

Usually a stye — an infected lash follicle or oil gland. Warm compresses settle most in one to two weeks. See chalazion vs stye.

Firm, painless, round lump within the lid

Usually a chalazion — a blocked oil gland. Many settle with warm compresses; persistent ones can be drained under local anaesthetic.

Small clear or white bubble at the lid edge

Often a cyst of Moll (a clear sweat-gland cyst) or cyst of Zeis (oil-filled). Harmless, but can be removed if bothersome. See eyelid cyst removal.

Soft, skin-coloured growth on a stalk or with a rough surface

A skin tag or squamous papilloma. Benign, and removable if it rubs, catches on lashes or bothers you. See skin tag on the eyelid and eyelid papilloma.

Flat yellow patches near the inner corners

Xanthelasma — cholesterol deposits in the skin. Worth a blood test for cholesterol. See xanthelasma removal in London.

Lumps that need prompt assessment

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common eyelid skin cancer in the UK, typically on the lower lid in older adults. Look out for a pearly or shiny lump, rolled edges, tiny surface blood vessels, a sore that does not heal, crusting or bleeding, and loss of eyelashes over the lump. A chalazion that keeps returning in the same place in an older adult should also be sampled. Caught early, eyelid skin cancers are usually very treatable.

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.

What happens at an assessment

The lid is examined under magnification, including its inner surface. Many lumps can be removed in a short procedure under local anaesthetic, and anything uncertain is sent for histology. See eyelid lump and lesion removal.

Seeing Ms Tahmina Pearsall

Ms Pearsall assesses and removes eyelid lumps and lesions privately.

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.