Inflammation of the glands in the eyelid, causing swelling, redness, and discomfort around the eye.
From Greek 'blepharon' (eyelid) + 'aden' (gland) + '-itis' (inflammation). The term combines anatomical location with the medical suffix indicating an inflammatory condition that became standardized in medical terminology during the 19th century.
This condition is what most people call a 'stye' or 'chalazion' — your eyelid glands can get infected just like any other gland in your body, and ancient Greek physicians were detailed enough to name the specific structures involved rather than just calling it 'eye inflammation.'
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