A small bump on the eyelid that is not a stye can be a chalazion or even milia or in rare cases could be skin cancer or even xanthelasma.
Chalazions are a blocked oil gland in the eyelid and are often confused with styes, although they are often non infectious and can grow larger in size and even develop more slowly than styes.
Milia are small, white keratin filled bumps and are harmless and even skin tags can occur on your eyelid which are also harmless.
Xanthelasma is a harmless yellow bump on or near your eyelid skin and is characterized by yellowish, cholesterol rich deposits that appear as bumps or plaques on or around your eyelids and is a type of xanthoma, which is a general term for deposits of lipids in the skin.
Xanthelsma itself is harmless although it can sometimes be a sign of other underlying conditions such as high cholesterol or an increased risk of heart disease.
A milia on the eye is a small, white or even yellowish in color, keratin filled cyst that appear just under your skin's surface.
Milia are commonly found around your eyes, and most particularly on your eyelids and under your eyes, because your skin in this area is also thin and also sensitive.
The good news though is that Milia on the eye is harmless and will often go away on their own, especially, when the Milia occurs in newborns.
Milia on the eye appear as tiny and dome shaped bumps which are often 1 millimeter to 2 millimeters in size.
And the milia on the eye occurs when dead skin cells or keratin which is a protein found in hair and skin become trapped in small pockets under your skin.
Milia can appear spontaneously or out of nowhere but they can also appear and be triggered by skin damage, such as through injuries, burns or even sun damage, or even by using of thick, occlusive skincare products around your eyes.
Unlike acne, milia is not caused by clogged pores or inflammation.
If the milia persists and does not go away then you may need to see a dermatologist or ophthalmologist to remove them although they often disappear on their own even when they occur in newborns.
Some ways you can prevent and treat milia on the eye at home are through gentle exfoliation and avoiding of heavy, pore clogging products around your eyes.
Milia on the eye can also be removed using a fine needle and then squeezing or picking out the contents but it's not recommended to do so yourself as it could lead to possible skin damage, scarring or infection.