Overview
Find out what to do if you have a lump on your eyelid, or an eyelid that's swollen, sticky, itchy, drooping or twitching.
Most eyelid problems are harmless
Many eyelid problems are not serious.
It's fairly common to have any of these problems:
- a lump that goes away by itself after 3 or 4 weeks
- mildly itchy, flaky or sticky eyelids that clear up by themselves
- swelling from a nearby insect bite, injury or operation that goes away after a week or so
- twitching or blinking from time to time - often when you're tired
- eyelids that droop (or get more 'hooded') as you grow older
Types of eyelid problems
Your symptoms might give you an idea of the cause. Don't self-diagnose - see an optometrist/optician or a GP if you're worried.
Lump on eyelid
Symptom - painful lump, filled with pus like a pimple
Possible cause - stye
Symptom - Hard lump, not painful
Possible cause - chalazion (meibomian cyst)
Symptom - Yellow lumps or patches
Possible cause - xanthelasma, sometimes caused by high cholesterol
Symptom - Blisters or scabs with a rash on the body
Possible cause - shingles or chickenpox
Symptom - Mole, freckle or patch changes shape, colour or size
Possible cause - skin cancer
Swollen eyelid
Symptom - Swelling after contact with something you're allergic to
Possible cause - allergic reaction
Symptom - Red, hot, painful, swollen
Possible cause - cellulitis
Itchy, flaky or sticky eyelid
Symptom - Itchy, crusty or flaky after contact with something you're allergic to
Possible cause - contact dermatitis
Symptom - Sticky, with red, itchy, watery eyes
Possible cause - conjunctivitis
Symptom - Eyelids that stick together, crusty eyelashes, dry, red or irritated eyes
Possible cause - blepharitis or dry eye syndrome
Drooping or hooded eyelid
Symptom - Lower eyelid drooping and turning outwards
Possible cause - ectropion
Symptom - Lower eyelid drooping and turning inwards
Possible cause - entropion
Symptom - Skin above upper eyelid drooping down over eye
Possible cause - dermatochalasis
Symptom - Edge of upper eyelid drooping down over eye
Possible cause - ptosis
Symptom - Sudden drooping with vision loss and headaches
Possible cause - rarely, a serious condition like myasthenia gravis or a brain tumour
Frequently twitching or blinking eyelid
Symptom - Frequent blinking or twitching, sometimes with uncontrollable eye closing
Possible cause - a type of dystonia (movement disorder) called blepharospasm
You can ask a pharmacist about:
- what you can do to treat it yourself
- if you can buy anything to help, for example cleaning solutions for sticky eyelids
- if you need to see an optician or GP
See an optometrist/optician or a GP if:
- you're worried about an eyelid problem
- it's getting worse or lasting a long time
- your eyelid is painful or you're in a lot of discomfort
- you have yellow lumps or patches around your eyes
Find an optometrist/optician
Ask for an urgent GP or optometrists/opticians appointment or call 111 if:
- your swollen eyelid is red, hot, painful, tender or blistered
- your eyelid droops suddenly
- the pain is in your eye (not your eyelid)
- the white of your eye is very red, in part ot all over
- you're sensitive to light (photophobia)
- your eyesight changes, for example you see wavy lines or flashing
- you have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery, or you feel generally unwell
- you think it's an allergic reaction
NHS 111 Wales will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.