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 with hot water that can be held against the affected eye.

Be careful not to use water that's too hot, particularly on children.

You should:

• hold the warm compress over the affected eye for five to 10 minutes
• gently massage the area
• repeat this three or four times a day until the stye clears up or releases some pus

The warmth of the compress will encourage the stye to release any pus, which will drain away. After this, your symptoms should quicklyimprove.

You should also keep the area around your eye clean and free from crusting.

Regularly using warm compresses as part of your daily routine can also help prevent styes forming in the first place.

Painkillers

If your stye is very painful,over-the-counterpainkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen , may help ease the pain.

Always read the manufacturer's instructions to ensure the medication is suitable for you and that you take the correct dose. Don't give aspirin to children under 16 years of age.

Other eye conditions

If you have another eye condition that's making your stye worse, your GP may prescribe separate medication for this or recommenda different course of treatment.

For example, if you have:

• conjunctivitis a short course of antibiotic ointmentmay be prescribed
• blepharitis your GP may recommend eye hygiene measures, such as using a cotton bud to clean the rim of your eyelids

Antibiotics aren't recommended for treating styes because there's little evidence they're effective, and styes usually get better on their own.