Eye Stye: How Is It Treated?
Also known as: Hordeolum, External hordeolum, Sty
What is a stye?
A stye is an acute, mild bacterial infection of an oil gland on the edge of the eyelid, where the eyelash meets the lid. It shows up as a small, red, painful bump, similar to a localized boil. It is a very common eye condition and is not serious in the vast majority of cases.
Doctors distinguish two forms. An external hordeolum, the familiar stye, involves the glands of Zeis or Moll at the base of the eyelashes. An internal hordeolum involves the meibomian glands within the tarsal plate, inside the eyelid.
Around 90% to 95% of styes are caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, with Staphylococcus epidermidis the next most common cause.
Causes and risk factors
A stye results from a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle or an oil gland of the eyelid. Contributing factors include:
- Insufficient eyelid hygiene
- Frequently rubbing the eyes with your hands
- Poorly maintained contact lenses
- Not removing eye makeup at night
- Chronic blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction
- Rosacea
- Diabetes, and immunosuppression generally
- Stress, which weakens the immune system
- Dry eyes
Symptoms
A stye presents as a red, painful bump on the edge of the eyelid, centered on a hair follicle, often progressing to a small, pus-filled white spot. It typically develops over a few days.
Other symptoms can accompany the bump:
- Eyelid swelling and tenderness
- A gritty, scratchy sensation, as if something is in the eye
- Light sensitivity
- Tearing
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is purely clinical, based on the characteristic appearance of the bump and a review of your history. In most cases a doctor can identify a stye simply by looking at it, and testing is rarely needed.
Available treatments
Most styes resolve on their own within about 1 to 2 weeks. Management relies on simple measures:
- Warm compresses: apply a warm, wet cloth for roughly 10 to 15 minutes, up to 4 times a day, to encourage natural drainage. This is the mainstay of treatment.
- Topical antibiotic ointment if needed, on a doctor’s advice. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment twice a day for 7 to 10 days is a common choice.
- Never pop or squeeze the bump yourself. Let it drain on its own. Squeezing can spread the infection.
- Thorough handwashing before touching the eye area.
- Oral antibiotics in the rare complicated case, for example when significant redness spreads into the surrounding eyelid.
- Incision and drainage by a doctor, reserved for a stye that fails to improve with conservative care or is very large. This is never something to attempt at home.
A stye can occasionally lead to a chalazion. Rarely, the infection can spread to the tissue around the eye and cause preseptal cellulitis or, more seriously, orbital cellulitis, which is a medical emergency.
Prevention and practical tips
Good daily eyelid hygiene, consistently removing eye makeup at night, thorough contact lens care, and frequent handwashing all help prevent styes from coming back. Treating an underlying condition such as chronic blepharitis also reduces recurrence.
When should you see a doctor?
See a doctor if:
- The stye does not improve after 1 to 2 weeks of self-care
- Swelling spreads to the whole eyelid, or redness extends beyond it
- You develop a fever
- Your vision is affected
- The bump becomes very large or very painful, or it bleeds
- You have intense light sensitivity or tearing
- Styes keep coming back
Key takeaway: A stye is a mild eyelid gland infection that usually clears up on its own with warm compresses. Never pop it yourself, to avoid spreading the infection.
Sources
- MedlinePlus (NIH), U.S. National Library of Medicine information on styes
- StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH), clinical reference on hordeolum, including risk factors and the signs that call for prompt referral
- EyeWiki, American Academy of Ophthalmology, ophthalmology reference on styes