Stye
Complications
Complications of styes are uncommon and they're rarely serious.
Meibomian cysts
Meibomian cysts (chalazions)tend to be painless unless they become infected. If they do, you may need antibiotics (usually an eye ointment).
Applying a warm compress (see above) to the cyst should help bring it down, although most cysts disappear by themselves.
Rarely, if the cyst doesn't disappear, it can be surgically removed under local anaesthetic (where the affected area is numbed).
Preseptal cellulitis
If the infection spreads to the tissues around your eye it can cause preseptal cellulitis .
This is an infection in the layers of skin around the eye. It can make your eyelids red and swollen and is usually treated with antibiotics.
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Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
introduction
Find out about styes, including what causes them, what you can do to treat them and when to see your GP.
Symptoms of a stye
The main symptoms of a stye are: a painful yellow lump on or in the eyelid redness of the eye or eyelid a watery eye, in some cases Styes often get better without treatment, particularly after t
Types of stye
There are two general types of stye: an external stye (external hordeolum) a swelling that develops along the edge of your eyelid; it may turn into a yellow pus-filled spot that's painful to touch
What causes a stye?
Styes are usually caused by a staphylococcal infection . Staphylococcus bacteria often live on the skin without causing any harm. External styes A stye on the outside of your eyelid may be caused by
Treating a stye
Most styes get better without treatment within one to three weeks. In the meantime, the treatments below should help ease your symptoms. Warm compress A warm compress is a cloth or flannel warmed wi
When to see your GP
See your GP if you've tried the above measures and your stye hasn't got better. Don't try to remove the eyelash or burst the stye yourself. Referral Your GP may refer you to an ophthalmologist (a
Complications
Complications of styes are uncommon and they're rarely serious. Meibomian cysts Meibomian cysts (chalazions)tend to be painless unless they become infected. If they do, you may need antibiotics (u
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