What is a stye?
Styes on the outside of the eyelid are usually a little bit more painful, but easier to treat. You’ll usually only get a stye in one eye, but it is possible to have them in both eyes, or even have more than one in the same eye. It may look a bit worrying, but it’s very common and usually nothing to worry about.What causes a stye?
Our eyelids have lots of little glands that help to keep the eye moist. Sometimes bacteria normally found on the skin (usually staphylococcus) can find its way into one of these glands, causing an infection. A stye could also be caused by an infected eyelash follicle.
Symptoms of a stye?
Stye symptoms to look out for:
- A red, swollen eyelid
- A small bump on the inside or outside of the eyelid (it may look a bit like a spot)
- A feeling of pain or tenderness, particularly when you blink
Treating a stye
How to get rid of a stye:
Applying a warm compress, like a flannel, to the affected eye for about 10 minutes a few times a day will help to relieve any pain, reduce swelling, and should encourage the stye to pop and drain its pus on its own.
While it’s healing, we’d recommend that you avoid wearing contact lenses and eye make‑up so that you don’t irritate the infected area.
It’s important that you don’t try to pop the stye yourself, as this can spread the infection.
- After a couple of weeks, a stye will usually go away on its own. But there are a few things you can do to help it on its way, and ease some of your symptoms.
- Applying a warm compress, like a flannel, to the affected eye for about 10 minutes a few times a day will help to relieve any pain, reduce swelling, and should encourage the stye to pop and drain its pus on its own.
- If the pain is bothering you, you may want to take some paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed.
Applying a warm compress, like a flannel, to the affected eye for about 10 minutes a few times a day will help to relieve any pain, reduce swelling, and should encourage the stye to pop and drain its pus on its own.
While it’s healing, we’d recommend that you avoid wearing contact lenses and eye make‑up so that you don’t irritate the infected area.
It’s important that you don’t try to pop the stye yourself, as this can spread the infection.
