Stye

A stye is a small, painful lump on or inside the eyelid or around the eye.

The skin around the stye may be swollen and red and the stye may be filled with yellow pus. The redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin.

Your eye may be red and watery but your vision should not be affected.

A stye usually only affects 1 eye, but it's possible to have more than 1 at a time and on both eyes.

It's probably not a stye if:

• there's no lump – if your eye or eyelid is swollen, red and watery it's more likely to be conjunctivitis or blepharitis
• the lump is hard but not very painful – this is more likely to be a chalazion

To reduce swelling and help the stye heal:

1. Soak a clean flannel in warm water.
2. Hold it against your eye for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Repeat this 2 to 4 times a day.

To relieve the pain, take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to children under 16.

Avoid wearing contact lenses and eye make-up until the stye has burst and healed.

Do not try to burst a stye or remove an eyelash yourself. This can spread the infection.

• a stye does not get better within a few weeks

If you have a stye, the GP may:

• burst the stye with a thin, sterilised needle
• remove the eyelash closest to the stye
• refer you to an eye specialist in hospital

You can help avoid stye by keeping your eyes clean.

Styes are often caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland.

You're also more likely to get a stye if you have long-term blepharitis or rosacea.

• wash your face and remove eye make-up before bed

• keep your eyelids and eyelashes clean, especially if you have blepharitis

• wash your hands before putting contact lenses in or taking them out

• do not share towels or flannels with someone who has a stye

• do not rub your eyes if you have not recently washed your hands

The main symptom of a stye is a small, painful lump on your eyelid.

Styes usually go away on their own. You can ease symptoms by putting a warm flannel on the affected eye and using painkillers.

A GP can treat a stye by bursting it or removing the eyelash closest to it. You may be referred to an eye specialist.