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Stye
A stye (sty) or hordeolum is an infection of a follicle or gland at the base of an eyelash. A small boil may appear at the margin of the eyelid but, in some cases, the infection can be so deep that only swelling and redness can be seen. A stye usually goes away by itself.
What are the symptoms of a stye?
- Slight swelling at the margin of an eyelid. It may fill with pus and become a small boil, which either gradually disappears or ruptures by itself.
- Itch.
- Tearing.
- Mild pain.
What causes a stye?
Infection sets in when an oil gland, or a follicle, becomes clogged with dirt or oil.
What you can do to help treat a stye
- A stye normally heals by itself within 2 weeks.
- Apply a warm compress using a warm towel for about 5 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day, and gently massage the area. This will unclog the follicle or gland and hasten the boil to rupture.
- Consult a doctor if the inflammation persists for more than 2 weeks, styes recur, or the stye rubs against the eye and irritates it.
What your doctor can do for you
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eyedrops or ointment, or antibiotic tablets if the infection is severe.
Last Reviewed: 12 February 2010
- 1. Stye (external hordeolum) [revised June 2006]. In: eTG complete [Internet]. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; 2010 Mar (accessed 2010 Apr 20.) http://www.tg.org.au/
2. Merck Manuals online medical library [website]. Chalazion and hordeolum (updated 2007, Nov). Available at: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec09/ch100/ch100e.html (accessed 2010, Apr 20)
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