What is a stye?

A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a small, painful lump on the outside or inside of your eyelid. It may have a different colour than your skin, due to swelling. A white spot in the middle may mean that there is pus inside.

What causes a stye?

Styes are caused by a bacterial infection affecting the eyelash follicle.

What are the symptoms of a stye?

A stye may make your eye feel irritated and watery, or that there’s something ‘stuck’ in your eye (foreign body sensation), like when you get an eyelash stuck on the surface of your eye.

When should I see my doctor?

You should see a doctor if:

• the stye obstructs your vision
• the eyelid bump worsens or does not improve within a week or two of self-care.
• the bump or bumps become very large or painful.
• you have a blister on your eyelid
• the whole eyelid is red, or the eye itself is red
• your eye is sensitive to light or have excessive tears
• another stye comes back soon after one has been successfully treated

How is a stye treated?

Styes usually clear up by themselves. It might take around 6 months for the lump or to completely disappear.

Here are some things you can do to help a stye heal:

• Hold a warm compress against your closed eyelid for 2 to 5 minutes at a time. This can be a clean, warm washcloth. The water should be as warm as you can handle, but take care not to burn yourself. You can do this up to 20 times a day. Gently massage your eyelid while holding the warm compress.
• You might notice discharge after using a warm compress. Clean your eyelid by gently wiping away any discharge with a clean, warm washcloth.
• Try not to touch, rub or squeeze the stye, as this can cause pus to be squeezed into the tissue next to the eye, and the infection to spread further.

Sometimes, antibiotic ointments or oral antibiotics may be needed if the skin surrounding the stye becomes infected (cellulitic). This means the skin around the stye gets red, warm, and swollen.

If a stye doesn't go away by itself, a doctor might need to drain it with a needle.

Can styes be prevented?

Ways to prevent getting styes or spreading infections:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid touching, rubbing or squeezing your eyes.
• Dispose of or clean your washcloth or warm compress after using.

Some skin conditions, for example, blepharitis, can also increase your risk of getting styes. Ask your doctor for advice.

Complications of a stye

If the infection from the stye spreads to the surrounding skin, this is called cellulitis. This is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment.

Cellulitis may case red, swollen, or painful skin on your eyelid or the eye itself. If the infection spreads to your blood, it can cause other symptoms including fever and feeling generally unwell.

Cellulitis is a rare but serious complication that can harm your eyesight and may then be life-threatening.

You should see your doctor straight away if you notice complications or treatment isn’t working.

Resources and support

Speak to your doctor. If you need to find a GP or health service, use the healthdirect Service Finder.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.