Stye (Sty): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & When to See a Doctor

A stye is a bacterial infection of the oil glands in the eyelid. It can cause a lump, swelling, redness, pain or discomfort, and tenderness of the eyelid.

Also known as a hordeolum, a stye is associated with thicker oil produced by the glands that help lubricate the eyes. Certain conditions may increase the risk of developing a stye, including seborrhea, high cholesterol, and chronic blepharitis.

If a stye is suspected and symptoms are severe, an ophthalmologist should be consulted. A stye usually goes away on its own within 2 to 5 days, but a doctor may recommend medication and self-care measures to help speed recovery.

Symptoms of a stye

The main symptoms of a stye are:

• A lump inside the eyelid or along the lash line;

• A small pus-filled bump on the inner surface or edge of the eyelid;

• Tenderness when the affected area is touched;

• Redness and discomfort in the area;

• Periorbital edema, or swelling of the eyelid;

• A feeling of warmth in the area.

Although a stye usually goes away on its own within a week, an ophthalmologist should be consulted to help prevent the inflammation from getting worse and to determine the most appropriate treatment.

Confirming a diagnosis

A stye is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist or primary care physician based on the symptoms and the changes seen when examining the eyelid lesion, which are usually characteristic of this condition.

Types of styes

The types of styes are:

1. Internal stye

An internal stye results from a bacterial infection of a type of gland located along the edge of the eyelid known as a meibomian gland.

Because of its location, the inflammation tends to appear mainly on the inner surface of the eyelid.

2. External stye

An external stye is a small collection of pus in one of the eyelash hair follicles caused by blockage and inflammation of nearby glands known as the glands of Zeis. It therefore develops on the outer part of the eyelid.

Possible causes

A stye is caused by a bacterial infection of glands in the eyelids, including infections involving Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis, which causes localized inflammation.

Some factors may contribute to the development of a stye, including:

• Seborrheic dermatitis;

• Rosacea;

• Chronic blepharitis;

• Diabetes;

• High cholesterol.

The risk of infection may also be higher when contact lenses are not properly disinfected, when sleeping with eye makeup on, when using expired makeup, or when touching the eyes with dirty hands, for example.

Treatment options

Treatment for a stye should be guided by an ophthalmologist and may include:

1. Warm compresses

A doctor may recommend applying a warm compress to the affected eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day. This can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain and discomfort, and promote drainage of pus.

A stye usually becomes less inflamed or drains on its own within about 5 days and typically does not last longer than 1 week. Signs of improvement include reduced swelling, pain, and redness.

2. Medication for a stye

In some cases, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics in the form of eye drops or ophthalmic ointments to help speed recovery and prevent the stye from getting worse.

In more severe cases, oral antibiotics may be recommended.

3. Stye drainage

If a stye is very large, the doctor may drain the pus from the lump on the eyelid.

Self-care for a stye

The main self-care measures for a stye are:

• Clean the area around the eyes and prevent excessive discharge from building up;

• Gently massage the eyelid to help the gland drain;

• Clean the affected eyelid with saline solution and sterile gauze, using a new piece of gauze for each cleaning;

• Avoid touching or rubbing the area excessively, as this can worsen inflammation;

• Avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses, as this may spread the infection, make the lesion larger, or cause it to last longer.

It is also important not to squeeze the lump on the eyelid, as this can spread the infection to other parts of the eye and make treatment take longer.

When to see a doctor

It is important to consult an ophthalmologist in the following situations:

• Very red and irritated eyes;

• Changes in vision;

• Symptoms that do not go away within 7 days;

• Inflammation that spreads to the face, causing a red, warm, and painful area.

After an evaluation, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic eye ointment or antibiotic eye drops. In some cases, oral antibiotics may also be necessary.

In a small number of more severe cases, a minor procedure may be needed to drain pus from the stye.