Preventing and treating a stye on the eye

Know what to do when this common infection strikes

Published: March 07, 2015 06:00 AM

Find Ratings

Eyeglass stores

Q. I'm constantly getting styes. How do I treat and prevent them?

A. While uncomfortable, red, and painful, the good news is styes are usually harmless. They're caused when an oil gland in the eyelid becomes infected, resulting in a swollen, pus-filled bump on the upper or lower part of the lid. They can occur either on the outside or the inner part of the eyelid. Other symptoms may include tearing, crustiness around the eye, or a scratchy feeling in the eye. A stye may be mistaken for a chalazion, a blocked oil gland on the eyelid that also causes swelling, but a chalazion is not caused by an infection.

Most styes clear up in seven to 10 days. To treat a stye at home it might help to clean your eyelids with a commercial eyelid scrub and apply a warm compress for five to 10 minutes twice daily. Wash your hands first and never squeeze the stye; also try not to rub your eyes. If you normally wear contact lenses, use your eyeglasses until it's healed.

If a stye doesn't improve within 48 hours, see your doctor—you might need antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eyedrops, or to have the it drained.

As for prevention, the best thing to do is to practice proper hygiene and take care of your eye health. Keep eyes clean and remove makeup and dirt from your face promptly. Keep contact lenses properly disinfected, too.

Editor's Note:

A version of this article also appeared in the January 2015 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.