Stye (sty)

A healthcare professional will usually diagnose a stye just by looking at the eyelid. A light and a magnifying device may be used to examine the eyelid.

In most cases, a stye doesn't require specific treatment, but using warm compresses can hasten the healing. A stye typically goes away on its own. Recurrences are common.

For a stye that won't go away, additional treatment may be recommended, such as:

• Antibiotics. A healthcare professional may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or a topical antibiotic cream to apply to the eyelid. If the eyelid infection persists or spreads beyond the eyelid, antibiotics in tablet or pill form may be recommended.
• Surgery to relieve pressure. If a stye doesn't clear up, a healthcare professional may make a small cut in it to drain the pus.

Take these measures to help a stye go away on its own:

• Leave the stye alone. Don't try to pop the stye or squeeze the pus from a stye. Doing so can cause the infection to spread.
• Clean your eyelid. Gently wash the affected eyelid with mild soap and water.
• Place a warm washcloth over your closed eye. To relieve pain, run warm water over a clean washcloth. Wring out the washcloth and place it over your closed eye. Re-wet the washcloth when it loses heat. Continue this for 5 to 10 minutes. Then gently massage the eyelid. Repeating these steps 2 to 3 times a day may help the stye to drain on its own.
• Keep your eye clean. Don't wear eye makeup until the stye has healed.
• Go without contacts lenses. Contact lenses can be contaminated with bacteria associated with a stye. If you wear contacts, try to go without them until your stye goes away.

Start by seeing someone on your healthcare team if your stye is painful or doesn't start to get better in two days. In some cases, your care team may refer you to a specialist who treats eye diseases and conditions, called an ophthalmologist.

Because appointments can be brief, it's a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready.

What you can do

• List any symptoms you're experiencing, including those that seem unrelated to the stye.
• List key personal information you feel may be important.
• Make a list of all medicines, vitamins and supplements that you're taking.
• List questions to ask during your appointment.

Your appointment time is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time. For a stye, some basic questions to ask include:

• What is the likely cause of my stye?
• When can I expect my stye to go away?
• Is this contagious?
• What kinds of tests do I need?
• Are there any treatments for my stye?
• What are the benefits and risks of these treatments?
• What can I do to prevent future styes?
• Can I continue wearing contact lenses?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
• Do you have any brochures or other printed materials that I can take with me?
• What websites do you recommend?
• Do I need a follow-up visit?