How does stye differ from chalazion: how to identify the disease

What are styes and chalazions?

Stye is a very common disease, it is difficult to find anyone who has not experienced it at least once. Stye, or hordeolum, is an inflammatory disease of the eyelid.
This is a purulent process that begins as a result of infection and is localized in one of the hair follicles of the eyelashes, the Zeiss sebaceous gland or a lobule of the meibomian gland. Depending on its location, it can be external (on the edge of the eyelid) or internal (on its inner surface). Chalazion, or chalazion, hailstone, is, unlike barley, a chronic disease. This is a tumor-like formation that slowly increases due to blockage of the outlet channel of the meibomian gland and the accumulation of secretory fluid in it.

Visually, barley and chalazion may look similar at the beginning of the process. But in essence these are completely different diseases.

What features distinguish chalazion from stye?

A chalazion is a painless, dense, round-shaped formation that occurs as a result of obstruction of the excretory duct of the meibomian gland. By its nature, chalazion is a chronic inflammation of the eyelid gland. A retention cyst is formed in the tarsal plate, which gradually increases, then its dense capsule is formed. A chalazion is a formation that is not fused to the skin. What distinguishes a chalazion from a stye is, first of all, the greater density of the formation and the absence of any painful sensations. The skin over the formation is easily displaced, its color remains normal. Since there are often no symptoms that bother the patient with chalazion, this disease is primarily a cosmetic defect.

Signs of chalazion:

the appearance of a “ball” in the thickness of the eyelid;
the eyelid turns red and swells;
possible slight inflammation of the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane inside the eyelid and on the white of the eyeball);
soreness and feeling of sand in the eye;
photosensitivity;
lacrimation with internal chalazion;
decreased vision with large or multiple chalazions.

When entering the chronic stage, the disease can last for years. The addition of pathogenic microflora contributes to the development of purulent inflammation - an abscess. The skin over the chalazion turns red, hurts, swells, and your health worsens. To prevent this, you need to start treatment in a timely manner.

Difference in causes

Barley occurs due to two reasons:

infection inside the eyelid;
weakening of the immune system.

In the vast majority of cases, the causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus. Its distribution routes are: airborne, household contact, medical or nutritional. Usually, violation of personal hygiene rules - rubbing the eye with dirty hands - leads to infection of the eyelid if the body is weakened due to the following factors:

Malnutrition or vitamin deficiency.
The presence of an infectious, viral, cold disease or recovery period after it.
Side effects of certain medications.
Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
Stress, lack of sleep, chronic fatigue.
The presence of eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, as well as some common diseases - diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal pathologies, demodicosis, seborrhea, furunculosis, elevated lipid levels.

The causes of chalazion are many and in most cases they are unclear. It often develops after general hypothermia of the body.

Barley is also common in children. Wearing contact lenses is considered a provocative factor. In addition, the following conditions may cause blockage of the sebaceous meibomian gland:

congenital pathologies of the gland (its improper development);
endocrine system disorders (diabetes mellitus), genetic predisposition, increased oily skin;
too much decorative cosmetics on the eyes and neglect of hygiene rules when removing them;
gastrointestinal diseases;
decreased immunity.

Despite some similar causes of both diseases, the main difference is the presence of infection and purulent inflammation in barley. In rare cases, untreated stye may develop into a chalazion. In this case, these will be two different diseases superimposed on each other.

Reasons for appearance

In order to determine how to treat the disease, it is necessary not only to correctly determine the type of seal formed on the eyelid, but also to take into account the causes of its occurrence.

The following prerequisites for formation are characteristic of barley:

bacterial infection;
frequent hypothermia;
weak immunity;
heredity;
gastrointestinal pathologies;
diabetes;
previous viral and/or colds;
seasonal vitamin deficiency

Frequent hypothermia may be a prerequisite for the development of barley

“Frozen” stye or chalazion occurs for the following reasons:

abnormal development and/or blockage of the gland;
endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus);
genetic predisposition;
excessively oily skin;
excessive passion for decorative cosmetics;
lack of eye and facial hygiene;
colds and viral infections;
weakened immune system;
chronic intestinal diseases;
daily use of contact lenses;
hormonal imbalance

Depending on the established cause of the appearance of chalazion or stye, their treatment will also differ significantly..

Features of barley

Barley is a purulent inflammation of the hair follicle of the eyelash or Zeiss (sebaceous gland), which affects the bulb of the eyelash. Read more about the disease here.

Related material: 9 ways to quickly get rid of stye

Symptoms of stye are:

painful swelling;
edema;
redness of the eyelid.

As a result, after 2–4 days a yellow purulent head is formed, which is removed with particles of dead tissue. In some cases, complications such as headaches, increased body temperature and swollen lymph nodes are possible.

It is contraindicated to squeeze out pus yourself! This can lead to dissemination of the infection and the appearance of new styes.

Also read: Features of treatment of stye on the eye during pregnancy

Reasons for appearance. Prevention. Treatment

Risk factors are:

frequent hypothermia;
disruption of the digestive tract;
avitaminosis;
weak immunity;
Staphylococcus aureus.

The condition of the eyelids themselves plays a significant role; the presence of dermatological diseases aggravates the risk of stye.

To prevent and treat the disease, it is necessary to follow the rules of personal hygiene and not touch your eyelids with dirty hands.

In the initial stage, barley is lubricated with a 1% solution of brilliant green 3 to 5 times a day. They also make drip injections of medicines into the conjunctival cavity of solutions:

sulfacyl sodium 20%;
erythromycin solution 1%;
dexamethasone 0.1%.

They also use ointments that are lubricated on top of the eyelid and placed under it. Treatment usually lasts up to 2 weeks.

How to distinguish diseases by symptoms?

A clear difference between barley and chalazion. Barley has the following clinical manifestations:

at the very beginning of the development of the inflammatory process - a feeling of discomfort, itching, sensation of a foreign body in the eye, then acute pain when blinking, increased tearfulness;
swelling of the eyelid, hyperemia of the mucous membrane, formation of a compaction with a purulent top;
after a few days - opening of the “head” with pus and necrotic core coming out of it;
reduction of swelling, reduction and complete disappearance of painful or unpleasant symptoms.

If your immune system is very weakened, the following symptoms may also occur:

increased body temperature;
headache;
general malaise, lack of appetite, nausea;
enlargement of regional lymph nodes, usually in the neck.

Manifestations of chalazion at the initial stage have similar features:

the formation of a pea-sized lump over several weeks (the skin over it is mobile, the conjunctiva is hyperemic and has a small gray area in the center);
the formation does not cause pain, except that if the lump is large, the feeling of pressure on the cornea may be unpleasant (it can cause astigmatism of the eye);
If, due to non-compliance with hygiene rules, the chalazion becomes infected, suppuration, pain, and redness of the skin of the eyelids are possible.

Externally, the disease looks only like a rounded formation at the edge of the upper or lower eyelid.

The symptoms of the diseases vary enough that you can independently determine what exactly is bothering you: stye or chalazion.

Barley - acute purulent inflammation of the eyelid glands

Barley is an acute purulent inflammation of the eyelid glands, most often the meibomian glands. This disease is most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and can occur in two forms: external and internal. The external barley is located on the edges of the eyelids, where the excretory ducts of the eyelid glands are directly located, and the internal one can be seen only when the eyelid is everted. In the clinical picture of barley, it is important to highlight the following symptoms:

at the beginning of the disease, the patient feels discomfort at the edge of the eyelid, especially when closing his eyes;
a little later, swelling of the eyelid occurs as a result of the appearance of infiltration;
as swelling progresses, pain increases;
on the 2-3rd day of the disease, a purulent “head” appears in the area of the ciliary edge of the eyelid;
on the 4th day it opens, and pus and a necrotic “core” are released;
after opening, the symptoms of the disease gradually disappear.

Differences in symptoms

The main reason why people confuse chalazion and stye is the similarity of symptoms of these diseases. But there is a way to distinguish ophthalmological pathologies by symptoms.

Initially, barley shows itself very clearly with the following signs:

feeling of discomfort in the eyelid area;
itching of the skin at the site of inflammation;
feeling of a foreign body in the eye.

After some time, swelling of the eyelid appears, and uncomfortable symptoms increase. Discomfortable sensations (pain, itching) are very disturbing, sometimes low-grade fever (37-38 degrees) occurs, and the lymph nodes located near the ears become enlarged. On the 3rd or 4th day, a compaction forms at the site of greatest irritation of the skin, which gradually develops a purulent apex. After a few more days, the top breaks through and pus flows out. After this, the inflammatory process subsides, and soon the sore heals completely.

Read in a separate article: Tumor on the eyelid: causes and types

The difference between a chalazion and a stye is that initially a dense tubercle appears on the upper or lower eyelid, which does not cause severe pain when palpated. The skin behind it moves easily, it does not fuse with it. With barley, this process is accompanied by itching, profuse lacrimation, and sometimes there is pain of a pulsating nature. With the development of a chalazion, practically no painful symptoms are noted. With barley, over time, the head of the abscess appears, and the chalazion remains just a hard lump.

The mechanism of occurrence of eye diseases

The cause of eye diseases lies in infection. It can come into contact with the eye from the environment (through hands, dirty handkerchiefs), and from the nasopharynx. When an infection gets on the skin of the eyelid, an inflammatory process begins. Immunity plays a huge role. If it is normal, inflammation may not begin. But if the immune system is weakened after an illness, this creates a favorable environment for the development of a new disease.

Barley

Barley is formed due to the causative agent of infection Staphylococcus aureus. This is an acute inflammation of the eye. It can be internal and external, formed on the eyelids, inside and outside. The location depends on what is inflamed. If it is the meibomian gland, then an internal swelling will form, and if the inflammatory process of the eyelash follicle has begun, then an external one.

Symptoms of stye, distinguished from chalazion:

Formation of a painful tubercle, swelling.
Feeling of a foreign body in the eye.
Development of redness in the tubercle area and on the eye.
Swelling of the eyelid.
Painful sensations at the site of swelling.
Body temperature may rise.
Hardened pus falls out in the corner.

The pathology affects one eye and does not often spread to the other. If adequate medical treatment is carried out, the stye goes away and does not recur. Sometimes the tubercle can open even without therapeutic measures. Traditionally, 4 days pass from the first manifestations to the outflow of purulent masses from the lump, and resumption can occur when the immune system is weakened.

Chalazion

Chalazion is a chronic inflammatory process of the meibomian gland. It develops when there is a blockage of the inflow channels. The cartilage of the eyelid can become inflamed. The disease differs from barley in the following ways:

A compacted tubercle is formed, it grows and does not cause pain even when palpated.
The main feature, in comparison with barley, is that the skin over the cone is mobile, the formation has no connection with the epithelium.
There is no redness of the eye, only slight redness around the formed tubercle.

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Sick people do not rush to see a doctor; this pathology does not cause unpleasant symptoms or discomfort. Patients who are ill are alarmed by the unaesthetic appearance; the lump begins to grow and becomes more noticeable. This leads the person to see a doctor. Like any pathology, this disease can provoke the development of complications. The danger is the lack of drug therapy. A small tubercle puts pressure on the eyeball, which can lead to vision impairment. A secondary infection may additionally develop, and the chalazion will become more difficult. Common causes of pathology:

Infection occurs through dirty hands; dangerous organisms can enter with foreign objects or water.
Reduced functioning of the immune system, hypothermia, past illnesses caused by viruses and infections. It has been proven that with a weakened immune system, the body cannot overcome microscopic pathogens, and a person gets sick more often.
Thyroid diseases. The body is a single system; problems with the functioning of the endocrine gland can provoke disorders of other organs.
The disease often occurs against the background of acute conjunctivitis and blepharitis.
Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract - the absorption of vitamins is disrupted, problems develop in metabolic processes in the body, which affects the functioning of the immune system as a whole.

Chalazion without treatment becomes chronic and, under favorable conditions for the disease, a relapse occurs.

Features during the course of diseases

Barley “gives” quite acute pain, sometimes even low-grade fever. When a chalazion develops, they are absent, apart from discomfort if the granulation is large enough.

Symptoms of chalazion develop over at least a month, or even two. The ulcer “ripens” in a couple of days.

The formation with barley is softer to the touch than with chalazion. Barley most often opens spontaneously; after the pus is released, there are no scars left. In the case of hailstones, if infection occurs and pus forms, it can escape through the fistula tract and continue to form.

Treatment methods for diseases of the eyelid glands

After successful differential diagnosis of eyelid diseases, it is necessary to begin their treatment. For barley, conservative therapy is prescribed: local use of drops and ointments containing antibacterial drugs is recommended. Dry heat gives a good effect, while “moist heat” is strictly prohibited - it provokes the formation of new abscesses. With frequent recurrence of barley, patients are prescribed restorative therapy. The most effective treatment for chalazion is surgical removal of the formation. An incision is made in the palpebral conjunctiva perpendicular to the edge of the eyelid, and it is important to remove the formation very carefully so as not to open its capsule.

Diagnostics and therapy

Diagnostic measures do not require the patient to undergo any examinations or undergo a set of tests. Diagnosis of the disease consists of an initial examination. The attending physician carefully examines the affected eyelid, performs light palpation, clarifies the degree of compaction, its characteristic features and makes a diagnosis. Once the type of formation has been identified, a treatment regimen is determined.

For a correct diagnosis, be sure to consult an ophthalmologist

Chalazion treatment

Chalazion is not an infectious disease, and therefore can go away on its own within a few days after formation. Does not require either medication or surgery. If a chalazion occurs for the first time, then it can be attributed more to a cosmetic defect than to a disease. In cases where the formation occurs periodically at short intervals, then you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo a series of studies to identify internal chronic pathologies.

If the “frozen” stye does not disappear naturally over a long period of time, then it is possible to use eye drops and ointments of appropriate action. It is preferable if they are prescribed by an ophthalmologist rather than chosen by the patient himself.

The most commonly used home remedies are:

compress of calendula and chamomile flowers. To prepare a decoction, take two tablespoons of each herb and pour boiling water over this mixture. Infuse, cool, strain. Soak a piece of clean gauze in the broth and apply to the inflamed eyelid. Repeat several times a day, making sure to warm the decoction.

A compress of calendula and chamomile flowers is often used for chalazion.

massage. In case of inflammatory processes of the upper eyelid, it is recommended to massage it with light circular movements in an upward direction. If a chalazion appears on the lower eyelid, then the massage movements are similar, but with changes in direction towards the bottom.

If traditional therapy does not give the desired effect, then surgical intervention is possible. The operation is simple, performed under local anesthesia, and lasts about half an hour.

The ophthalmologist cuts the skin of the eyelid from the inside, after which the liquid accumulated in the seal is drawn out, and then short-length sutures are applied to the incision. The operation is usually performed on an outpatient basis, so after a few hours the patient is given a tight bandage over the eye and can go home. Anti-inflammatory drops and ointments are prescribed as subsequent therapy.

Treatment of barley

In the chronic stage, drug therapy is prescribed, which consists of taking antibiotics. For self-treatment, the following options are used:

cauterization of the “head” with alcohol or brilliant green;
the use of antibacterial eye drops, they almost completely destroy pathogenic bacteria that cause infectious inflammation of the eyelid;
applying dry heat to the sore spot strictly until the stage of abscess formation;
the use of sulfonamide ointments to localize the inflammatory process;
rinsing with furatsilin, the drug is taken in the ratio of one tablet per glass of warm water;

For barley, use eye drops with an antibactericidal effect

The most effective folk recipes are:

washing the eyes with a decoction of chamomile, calendula or drinking tea;
compresses using herbal solutions, including flaxseed;
warming the sore spot with a boiled chicken egg;
lotions made from aloe juice diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10;
consumption of yellow tansy flowers up to four times a day, washed down only with cold water

Treatment of stye and chalazion

If you consult a doctor in time, the risk of surgical treatment becomes minimal. In 25% of cases, if the chalazion is not complicated by an inflammatory process, a few days after formation it begins to resolve and goes away on its own. If it occurs regularly, you should definitely consult a doctor to identify the causes and effective treatment.

An ophthalmologist can prescribe eye ointments and drops that promote the process of tumor resorption and restore the functioning of the meibomian gland duct, and also, depending on the degree of development of the process, recommend the following treatment options:

Traditional medicine methods are effective in the case of treating a one-time or rare chalazion that is not complicated by infection - they use compresses from a warm infusion of chamomile and calendula flowers, as well as a light massage of the tumor in a circular motion (if localized on the lower eyelid - the direction of movement is upward, on the upper - downward) several times a day.
Steroid injections directly into hailstones. This method works well to reduce inflammation.
Surgical option. A large chalazion that constantly recurs can be removed with an incision and curettage. Performed under local anesthesia, without pain.

If a chalazion forms regularly, you should definitely undergo an examination, which will be prescribed by a therapist. The problem may be caused by the presence of another chronic pathology.

Stye is treated with antibacterial drops and ointments for a week. The abscess usually opens up on its own earlier, but in order to avoid relapses, you need to endure the full period of using the drugs.

Symptoms

Both diseases begin with redness in a small area of the eyelid. After some time, a lump begins to appear in this place. From this point on, the symptoms of stye and chalazion begin to differ.

In the second case, the growth gradually increases in size, without causing any discomfort to its “owner” until a certain point. It will increase in size, since after the sebaceous gland is blocked, the secreted secretion has nowhere else to go.

A few days after formation, pus begins to accumulate inside the stye. The patient feels severe pain, itching, and hyperemia. Relief occurs after spontaneous outflow of pus to the surface and release of the purulent core.

With proper treatment, the stye goes away completely after a week and a half.

How does stye differ from chalazion: how to identify the disease

Many people, noticing a slight redness on their eyelids, in place of which a compaction in the form of a ball or hailstone gradually forms, believe that it is a stye that has popped up and begin to treat it on their own. But there is another ophthalmological disease that has a similar manifestation, clinical picture, and symptoms. This is a chalazion. Despite the external similarity of barley and chalazion, they have significant differences, identifying which can quickly get rid of the problem. How barley differs from chalazion will be discussed further.

Causes of chalazion and stye

The tear fluid protects the eyes from dryness. To prevent it from evaporating from the surface of the eye, there is a special sebaceous secretion secreted by the meibomian glands, located throughout the edges of the eyelids. This secretion creates a thin lipid layer on the conjunctiva, protecting tears from rapid evaporation. If, due to poor hygiene, excessive accumulation of fat mixed with dust, particles of the epidermis, the glands become clogged, blocking the release of sebum, they become denser, and a hard ball appears - a chalazion (“hailstone”). When an infection gets into the gland or another part of the eyelid, a compaction with purulent contents appears - barley (hordeolum).

Chalazion affects the edges of the eyelids due to stagnation in the outlet channel of the meibomian gland of fatty secretion, which is necessary to lubricate the eyelashes, the edges of the eyelids, and the cornea to prevent friction of the eyelids against the eye during blinking. If the meibomian gland duct is blocked, fatty secretions accumulate in it. In this case, the immune system surrounds it with a fibrous capsule, but the secretion continues to accumulate in it and the hailstone grows. The prerequisites for the appearance of chalazion and stye have their own similarities and differences.

Barley often develops due to the following provoking factors:

weakened immune system;
metabolic diseases;
constant hypothermia;
infectious, viral diseases;
gastrointestinal diseases;
avitaminosis.

Chalazion and stye have both similarities and differences depending on the cause of their occurrence.

Predictive factors include:

genetic predisposition;
improper eyelid skin hygiene or lack thereof;
oily facial skin;
endocrine diseases;
chronic gastrointestinal diseases;
weakened immunity;
use of low-quality decorative cosmetics;
daily use of contact lenses that are stored, put on and removed without proper hygiene.

Differences in the clinical picture

Barley is an acute inflammation localized in the ciliary follicle, the Zeiss sebaceous gland or the meibomian gland. A chalazion is a tumor-like compaction that slowly develops due to blockage of the outlet channel of the meibomian gland and the accumulation of secretory fluid there. These two ophthalmological diseases are very similar in appearance, but in essence they are completely different pathologies.

Barley is infectious in nature and its main causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus.

It can be internal, when the seal can be seen by turning the eyelid, and external, in which purulent inflammation develops on the edge of the eyelid from the outside at the point where the inflamed gland is located. The lump matures in 3-10 days, filling with pus and causing great discomfort to the person. As the seal matures, it opens on its own and after the pus flows out, the wound heals without a trace.

Unlike barley, chalazion does not have an infectious nature; it is not contagious. Patients are mainly concerned about aesthetic discomfort associated with the appearance of an unsightly formation in a visible place. Only as the hailstones increase in size can pressure be felt on the eye, which can lead to damage.

Chalazion develops slowly over a month or even two. The seal may disappear on its own, but if an infection gets inside and pus forms, a fistula occurs, through which the purulent mass will be released, but the chalazion will continue to form.

Differences in symptoms

The main reason why people confuse chalazion and stye is the similarity of symptoms of these diseases. But there is a way to distinguish ophthalmological pathologies by symptoms.

Initially, barley shows itself very clearly with the following signs:

feeling of discomfort in the eyelid area;
itching of the skin at the site of inflammation;
feeling of a foreign body in the eye.

Diagnostics

Differentiating the types of seal on the eyelid is not difficult for a specialist. No tests are required. Before identifying a chalazion or stye, the doctor examines the lump, asks the patient about troubling symptoms, palpates the sore eyelid with light movements, assessing the degree of lump, and makes a diagnosis.

Treatment of chalazion and stye

The methods of treatment for the two ophthalmological diseases differ, since the nature of their origin is different.

Chalazion

Chalazion is often not treated at all. Some people perceive the first-time “hail drop” as simply a cosmetic defect. But since chalazion is a chronic disease, it recurs. If this happens often, you should consult a doctor to identify the cause of constant relapses and then treat the underlying disease or eliminate the provoking factors that lead to the appearance of chalazion. If the seal does not disappear for a long time, it is possible to use drops or ointments, but only after agreement with the ophthalmologist.

To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, you can use a chamomile decoction by soaking a cotton pad in it and applying it to the inflamed area several times a day, or massage the lump in a circular motion after soaking your fingers in heated linseed or olive oil.

If a chalazion becomes infected, steroid injections are prescribed directly into the lump. If the chalazion has reached too large a size and begins to put pressure on the eyes, surgical intervention is performed, which consists of cutting the seal and scraping out the capsule along with the contents. The operation is performed under local anesthesia and lasts approximately 30 minutes. The doctor cuts the skin on the eyelid and uses a special device to draw out the accumulated secretion. A few hours later the patient goes home. While the wound is healing, anti-inflammatory drops and ointments are prescribed.

Barley

Treatment of barley also differs; it is carried out in slightly different ways. At the beginning of the development of the disease, even before the appearance of the abscess, dry heat (UV heating), washing the eyelids with a furatsilin solution, and the use of antibacterial drops and ointments are recommended.

At the stage of compaction formation, as the head matures, it is burned with brilliant green or alcohol. From folk recipes, it is recommended to wash the eyes with a decoction of chamomile or calendula, use compresses with herbal decoctions, and warm the sore eyelid with dry heat. After the head has ruptured, it is recommended to use antimicrobial and antibacterial ointments and drops for several days to prevent re-entry of infection into the wound.

Prevention

Ball-shaped seals (chalazion or stye) cause a person a lot of discomfort, both physical and psychological. It should be remembered that with weakened immunity, both of these diseases can often appear. Therefore, immediately after the seal is cured, it is necessary to think about preventive measures aimed at preventing their reappearance.

Disease prevention measures are as follows:

take vitamins;
enrich your diet with fruits, vegetables and herbs;
try to avoid hypothermia;
use only high-quality decorative cosmetics;
follow the rules for using contact lenses;
if the skin is prone to oiliness, pay more attention to cleansing it of sebum using special products;
do not touch your eyes with dirty hands;
promptly treat infectious and viral diseases;
Carry a clean handkerchief or napkin with you to, if necessary, wipe the eye or use it to remove a foreign body that has entered the eye.

Despite their external similarity, chalazion and stye have different origins. This is very important for choosing the right treatment tactics. If you pay close attention to your health, you can independently determine the type of ophthalmological pathology. However, it is better to consult a doctor who will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

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Prevention

Disease prevention measures are as follows:

take vitamins;
enrich your diet with fruits, vegetables and herbs;
try to avoid hypothermia;
use only high-quality decorative cosmetics;
follow the rules for using contact lenses;
if the skin is prone to oiliness, pay more attention to cleansing it of sebum using special products;
do not touch your eyes with dirty hands;
promptly treat infectious and viral diseases;
Carry a clean handkerchief or napkin with you to, if necessary, wipe the eye or use it to remove a foreign body that has entered the eye.

Author of the article: Kvasha Anastasia Pavlovna, specialist for the website glazalik.ru Share your experience and opinion in the comments.

Prevention: prevention is better than cure

What is common in the prevention of both diseases is:

maintaining personal hygiene (use a personal clean face towel, do not touch your eyes with dirty hands);
strengthening the immune system (hardening, taking the necessary medications in consultation with the doctor).

In case of frequent relapses of diseases, you need to be examined by a therapist and, if necessary, by specialized specialists (dermatologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist).

In the video below, experts talk about the symptoms and treatment methods for barley:

Causes of chalazion formation

The meibomian glands, located in the cartilage of the eyelid, produce lipids (fat) that form the outer layer of the eye's protective film. The lipid layer is necessary to maintain tears on the surface of the eye. Sometimes, blockage of the excretory ducts of these sebaceous glands occurs, since the discharge is too thick and cannot flow out of the gland. In this case, the gland begins to increase in size and excess pressure inside this tissue leads to non-infectious inflammation. However, quite often a bacterial infection can quickly develop (usually staphylococcus, which lives on everyone’s skin). Bacteria multiply inside the gland and a chalazion appears on the eyelid.

Symptoms

Swelling.
When pressing on the tumor, pain appears.
Increased lacrimation.
Redness of the skin of the eyelids.
Pea formation.
Itching, stinging, burning.
Accumulation of pus.
Visual impairment.
Formation of a gray or red spot.

Disease prevention

A few simple tips will help you avoid this trouble:

Try to touch your eyes as little as possible. This can irritate the eyes and increases the risk of bacteria getting into the eye. Before you need to touch him, wash those hands.
Protect your eyes from dust and dirt. Wear special safety glasses if possible.
Do not overuse cosmetics. Update them periodically, at least once every six months.
If you have a tendency to get stye, then you need to wash your eyes regularly with warm water and baby shampoo.

If inflammation appears on the eyelid, you should immediately see a doctor.