Stye
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 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.
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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