Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
A stye (hordeolum) is a small, pimple-like bump that can form at the base of your eyelash or under the eyelid.Styes occur when an oil gland gets infected or as a complication of eyelid skin problems.While painful, styes are usually harmless.
This article looks at the types, symptoms, and causes of styes, how they’re diagnosed and treated, and what complications you may face from a stye in the eye.
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Types of Styes
There are two types of styes:
Stye Symptoms
A stye usually starts as abump on the edge of the eyelid. On light-colored skin, they generally look white to yellowish or pink. On darker skin, they may look pink, or there may be no visible discoloration.
Symptoms of a stye may include:
Blinking can feel a little different than usual when you have a stye.
Complications
If an external stye lingers, it may lead to complications, such as:
Why Do Styes Happen?
Anyone can get a stye.Clogged eyelid glands and eyelash follicles can lead to styes.
You may be prone to them if you have:
You’re also more likely to develop styes if you:
Styes may also be tied to stress.
It’s best to see aneye doctorif you think you have a stye.
To reach a diagnosis, they may:
Styes usually go away on their own in a week or less. Healing can usually be helped along with some home treatments. In some cases, you may need medication.
If you haven’t already, be sure to see your healthcare provider if:
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Warm Compress
Lightly press the compress against your eyelid for between five and 10 minutes. Do this at least three times a day.
The skin on your eyelid is fragile. Make sure you always test how hot something is before putting it on your eye.
Eye Drops and Antibiotics
Medicated eye drops or antibiotic ointment may help cure an infection. Both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drops are available.
Ask your eye healthcare provider which is best for you and be sure to use products as directed. Be sure you’re using options that are specifically approved for use in and around the eyes.
In some cases, oral antibiotics may be prescribed to clear and infection.
Eyelid Scrubs
OTC eyelid scrubs are commercially prepared medicated shampoo packets similar to a moist towelette. They help kill bacteria on the eyelid or the stye and help the bump heal.
Draining a Stye
Rarely, a healthcare provider will need to make a tiny cut and drain a stye. This is mainly necessary when a stye becomes especially big and painful.
Never try to pop a stye like a pimple or drain it on your own. This can lead to infection.
How to Get Rid of a Stye
Once you’ve had a stye, you’re more likely to get more in the future. You can take simple steps to prevent them, though:
6 Tips to Prevent Styes
Summary
Styes are painful bumps on the eyelid. Symptoms include light sensitivity, watery eyes, itching, and redness. Complications include an internal stye and infection of a blocked oil gland.
Frequently Asked QuestionsProbably not. Styes take several days to a week to heal, even with treatment. A warm compress may help it heal more quickly.Usually about five to seven days. It may get bigger for about three to five days and then it may start to drain. Then it takes a few more days to completely heal.
Probably not. Styes take several days to a week to heal, even with treatment. A warm compress may help it heal more quickly.
Usually about five to seven days. It may get bigger for about three to five days and then it may start to drain. Then it takes a few more days to completely heal.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kaur S, Larsen H, Nattis A.Primary care approach to eye conditions.Osteopathic Family Physician. 2019;11(2):28-34.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are styes and chalazia?University of Rochester Medical Center.Styes in children.National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Meibomian gland dysfunction and treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hordeolum (stye).National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Staphylococcal infections.American Optometric Association.Eye and vision conditions: Hordeolum.Nemours Children’s Health System.Styes.Stanford University, Stanford Health Care.Chalzion and stye treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can I use warm compresses on my stye for more than 10 minutes?Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K.Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;(1). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kaur S, Larsen H, Nattis A.Primary care approach to eye conditions.Osteopathic Family Physician. 2019;11(2):28-34.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are styes and chalazia?University of Rochester Medical Center.Styes in children.National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Meibomian gland dysfunction and treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hordeolum (stye).National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Staphylococcal infections.American Optometric Association.Eye and vision conditions: Hordeolum.Nemours Children’s Health System.Styes.Stanford University, Stanford Health Care.Chalzion and stye treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can I use warm compresses on my stye for more than 10 minutes?Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K.Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;(1). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kaur S, Larsen H, Nattis A.Primary care approach to eye conditions.Osteopathic Family Physician. 2019;11(2):28-34.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are styes and chalazia?University of Rochester Medical Center.Styes in children.National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Meibomian gland dysfunction and treatment.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hordeolum (stye).National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Staphylococcal infections.American Optometric Association.Eye and vision conditions: Hordeolum.Nemours Children’s Health System.Styes.Stanford University, Stanford Health Care.Chalzion and stye treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can I use warm compresses on my stye for more than 10 minutes?Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K.Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;(1). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4
Kaur S, Larsen H, Nattis A.Primary care approach to eye conditions.Osteopathic Family Physician. 2019;11(2):28-34.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are styes and chalazia?
University of Rochester Medical Center.Styes in children.
National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Meibomian gland dysfunction and treatment.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hordeolum (stye).
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Staphylococcal infections.
American Optometric Association.Eye and vision conditions: Hordeolum.
Nemours Children’s Health System.Styes.
Stanford University, Stanford Health Care.Chalzion and stye treatment.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can I use warm compresses on my stye for more than 10 minutes?
Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K.Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;(1). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4
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