Styes are painful bumps that typically form on the outer corner of eyelids and usually go away on their own within 1-2 weeks.
An effective remedy could be using a warm compress. Soak a clean washcloth in warm water, squeeze out any excess, and place it over your eye several times throughout the day for 10-15 minutes each time.
Warm compresses on the eyelid can help your stye drain and clear faster. Use a warm washcloth or cloth from a tea bag; just make sure it doesn't contain hot enough water, since your skin around your eyes is particularly delicate. You could add drops of herbal extract or tincture for even greater soothing relief.
A stye (or hordeolum) occurs due to blocked oil glands near the eyelashes being clogged with dead skin or dirt, leading to painful pimple-like bumps on the eyelashes.
Styes usually heal on their own in about a week, but if they persist and cause discomfort and interfere with daily activities, seek medical advice immediately. Your physician may recommend antibiotic ointment such as erythromycin for 7-10 days to be applied directly onto the eyelid; alternatively over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help ease any associated discomfort.
Styes occur when bacteria infiltrate one of the oil-secreting glands lining your eyelids, inflicting infection. They typically disappear on their own within several days or can form into something known as chalazion which will require medical intervention to resolve. Your chances of contracting styes increase significantly if you suffer from conditions like blepharitis or rosacea as they increase risk for infection.
Antibiotic eyedrops or ointments, such as erythromycin or bacitracin, can help prevent or speed the healing of styes. Unfortunately, however, these prescription-only medications must be obtained before use.
Avoid squeezing or poking at styes as this could spread the bacteria present within it into your eye or other parts of the face, worsening infection and possibly leading to vision problems. Wash your hands frequently while having a stye; this will reduce chances of spreading its presence further.
An irritating or painful stye requires medical intervention if it causes discomfort or impairs vision. Healthcare providers can drain it or prescribe antibiotics to reduce inflammation.
Once a stye forms, do not try to pop or squeeze it - this could only exacerbate it and spread infection further into your eyelid. Squeezing it too hard could also result in permanent scarring from rupture.
Topical antibiotics like erythromycin and bacitracin may be prescribed to treat styes. Although they won't reach the source of infection within, they can still help reduce swelling while keeping bacteria at bay.
A chalazion is similar to a stye, except it forms on the back of your eyelid and typically causes no pain. Over time it may become chronic and larger as more pressure builds up inside, blurring vision. If treatments don't help enough, your healthcare provider might suggest surgery in order to drain it away.
Styes usually resolve themselves, but if yours are extremely painful or do not resolve within a week, see your physician or eye care specialist immediately. He/she may prescribe antibiotic ointment/drops/oral antibiotics or drain the stye to relieve pressure and pain - this can often be done directly in their office by making small cuts for drainage; or refer you to an ophthalmologist for more serious cases such as chalazion.
Your doctor can typically diagnose a stye by simply looking at it, sometimes using special lights and magnification. They may use special tools to drain it. In case the infection becomes severe or spreads - for example cellulitis developing - they may prescribe antibiotics like Erythromycin Ointment or Tablets which work by interfering with bacteria's ability to make protein; this treatment also commonly used against respiratory infections, skin infections and UTIs.
