Styes: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Published on June 21st, 2024

Updated on August 02nd, 2024

A stye refers to a swollen lump on the eyelid, caused by a bacterial infection of an oil gland in the eye, or of the eyelash hair follicle. The symptoms of a stye include a red, swollen lump on the inside of the eyelid or at the base of the eyelash that may resemble a pimple. A stye may also feel tender or painful. There are two main types of stye, an external stye found on the base of the eyelash and an internal stye found inside the eyelid. There are several risk factors that may contribute to the development of styes including having previously had a stye, blepharitis, diabetes, wearing contact lenses and hormonal changes. Preventing a stye may not be possible if it is caused by diabetes or hormonal changes. However, maintaining good eye hygiene such as handling contacts properly and not touching the eyes with dirty hands, may help to prevent a stye.

What is a Stye?

A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a red swollen lump on or near the eyelid. According to Health Direct, a stye is generally caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle. A stye may look like a pimple and may be internal, meaning it is located inside the eyelid or external, meaning it is located on the base of the eyelash.

What are the Stye Symptoms?

The main symptom of a stye is a red, swollen lump on the inside of the eyelid or at the base of the eyelash. A stye may be tender or painful and can have pus, resembling a pimple. Watery eyes or a feeling that something is in the eye is also a symptom of a stye, according to Victoria’s Better Health Channel.

What are the Treatments for a Stye?

A stye may not always need treatment, as the infection may clear up on its own. If a stye has not gone away after 10 days to 2 weeks, it is important to see an optometrist or medical professional, so they can determine if treatment is needed and what kind. Treatment for a stye can include a warm compress, antibiotics and lancing. The treatments for a stye are listed below.

Warm compress: A warm compress can be used to help treat a stye as the warmth may help bring the stye to a point where it drains on its own, according to My Health Alberta. A warm compress is typically a washcloth soaked in warm water and placed on the eye for 15-20 minutes at a time.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be used to help treat a stye, in the form of lotion or ointment. Antibiotics are a type of medicine that fights bacteria.
Lancing: Lancing may be used to treat a stye if it's not healing on its own. Lancing refers to a medical professional piercing a stye to allow the pus to drain. It is not recommended that a person lances a stye themselves as it may worsen the infection.

What are the Types of Stye?

There are two main types of stye, external stye and internal stye. The types of stye are listed below.

Internal stye: An internal stye is found inside the eyelid.
External stye: An external stye is found at the base of the eyelashes.

1. Internal Stye

An internal stye is a stye that is located inside of the eyelids. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, an internal stye is often caused by an infection of an oil-producing gland, or the Meibomian gland, in the eyelid.

2. External Stye

An external stye is located at the base of the eyelashes or where the eyelid starts. According to the College of Optometrists, an external stye is caused by a bacterial infection of the eyelash follicle.

Two images, one with an internal stye on the inside of the eyelid and one with an external stye on the outside of the eye near the base of the eyelashes.

What Causes a Stye?

A bacterial infection of the eyelash follicle or oil glands near the eyelids causes a stye. The bacteria that causes a stye is typically staphylococcal. There are several reasons a bacterial infection might occur in the eyelid area, including poor hygiene, hormonal changes and a compromised immune system.

What are the Risk Factors for Developing Styes?

There are several risk factors that may contribute to the development of styes including having previously had a stye, blepharitis, diabetes, wearing contact lenses and hormonal changes. The risk factors for developing a stye are listed below.

Previously had a stye: Those who have previously had a stye, may be at risk for developing them again, depending on the cause.
Blepharitis: Blepharitis is a condition characterised by eyelid inflammation, which can lead to the development of a stye.
Diabetes: Diabetes is a medical condition that affects blood sugar levels and can lead to complications in the eyes including styes.
Wearing contact lenses: Wearing contact lenses can increase the risk for styes, as improper hygiene when using contact lenses can introduce bacteria to the eye that may cause a stye.
Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes may be a risk factor for developing styes.

1. Previously Had a Stye

If you have previously had a stye, you might be at risk for developing one again. This may be due to chronic conditions such as blepharitis, acne rosacea or dandruff which can impact the oil glands in the eyes.

2. Blepharitis

Blepharitis may be a risk factor for developing a stye. Blepharitis refers to an eye condition in which the eyelids become inflamed. Blepharitis may lead to other eye conditions including a stye.

3. Diabetes

If a person has diabetes, they may be at higher risk of developing a stye. Diabetes refers to a health condition in which levels of blood sugar or blood glucose are too high in the body. Diabetes can affect the immune system and cause complications in the body, including in the eyes. According to Negi, Vernon in the paper, An overview of the eye in diabetes, recurrent styes can indicate that a person may have diabetes.

4. Wear Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses can be a risk factor for developing a stye, as poor hygiene when using contact lenses can lead to infections. Contact lenses are synthetic lenses placed on the eye to help correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. To use contact lenses, a person is required to use clean hands and fingers to place the lens onto the surface of the eye. Contact lenses that are extended wear also need to be cleaned and stored properly. If contact lenses are not used or stored properly, with proper hygiene measures, they can bring bacteria into the eye area and lead to infections such as a stye.

5. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes may increase a person’s risk of developing a stye. Hormonal changes refer to a change in the way hormones in the body work, this could be due to things like menstruation.

What Should You Avoid with a Stye?

If a person has a stye there are several things they should avoid doing to prevent the stye worsening, including avoiding contact lenses and eye makeup. Contact lens use should be avoided until the stye has cleared up, as these lenses are placed directly on the eye and may irritate the stye further. It is also a good idea to avoid makeup such as mascara, which is put directly onto the eyelashes, as this may irritate the stye.

How Long Do Styes Last?

The exact time a stye lasts will depend on the individual and the level of infection, however, most styes will last 1 to 2 weeks. According to the Seattle Children’s Hospital, a stye will usually form and come to a pimple-like head within 3-5 days, resolving a few days after this.

Can You Use Eye Makeup With a Stye?

It is not recommended to use eye makeup when you have a stye as eye makeup could irritate or spread the stye. Using eye makeup such as mascara or eye shadow brushes whilst you have a stye may also introduce the stye-causing bacteria into your products, and lead to another infection when these appliances are reused later.

How to Get Rid of a Stye Fast?

You can not get rid of a stye fast. A stye will typically last around 1 -2 weeks and can go away on its own. It is not advised to squeeze or pop the stye in an attempt to make it go away quicker, as this may lead to further infection of the stye and the surrounding tissues. At-home treatments for styes can include warm compresses. If a stye has not gone away after a couple of weeks, it is recommended to go and see a doctor.

Are Styes from Stress?

Styes are not generally considered to be a direct result of stress. However, stress can weaken the immune system, which may make a person more susceptible to getting a stye.

How is a Stye Diagnosed?

A stye will be diagnosed by a medical professional or an eye care professional, by looking at and examining the stye. According to Penn Medicine, tests are rarely needed in diagnosing a stye.

What are the Best Eye Drops to Treat a Stye?

Antibiotic eye drops can be prescribed to treat a stye, however, antibiotic ointment is more commonly used. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Erythromycin or bacitracin are the types of antibiotics commonly used to treat a stye and are generally given as an ointment, as opposed to eye drops.

Can a Stye be Healed Naturally?

Yes, a stye may heal on its own without treatment such as antibiotics. According to Havard Health, a stye usually lasts 1 - 2 weeks and will usually go away on its own.

How to Prevent Stye?

Styes may not be preventable if caused by medical issues such as diabetes, hormonal changes or eye conditions such as blepharitis. If a person uses contact lenses this could increase their risk of getting styes. Maintaining good hygiene when using contacts may help prevent bacteria from entering the eye that causes styes. Maintaining good eye hygiene, such as not touching the eyes with dirty hands may also help to prevent a stye.

When to Call a Doctor about Stye?

Styes will generally resolve within 1-2 weeks on their own. However, if a stye does not go away within this time, it is recommended that a person sees a doctor. According to Seattle Children’s Hospital, a person should also see a doctor about a stye if the eyelid becomes swollen, the stye comes to a head but doesn't drain within 3 days, or if more styes appear.

What is the Difference Between Stye and Chalazion?

Whilst a stye and a chalazion may seem similar in appearance, there are some key differences between the two including symptoms and causes. A stye is caused by a bacterial infection of the oil glands or eyelash hair follicle, whereas a chalazion is caused by a blocked oil gland. A chalazion is also different from a stye in symptoms. A chalazion does not typically come to a head like a stye, and it is also not usually painful.

Two images, one of a stye on the eye and one of a chalazion on the eye.

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