Sty – Symptoms and Causes

What Is a Stye?

A stye is a red, painful bump that forms near the edge of your eyelid. It looks similar to a pimple and often contains pus. Styes can develop on either the outside or inside of your eyelid.

These small infections occur in the glands at the base of your eyelashes. When bacteria enter these glands, they become infected and swollen.

Most styes heal on their own within a few days. To relieve discomfort while you wait, place a warm, damp washcloth on your eyelid for 5–10 minutes a few times daily.

Treatment Options

• Home remedies:
  • Warm compresses (3-4 times daily)
  • Gentle cleaning of the eyelid
  • Avoiding eye makeup until healed
• Medical treatments:
  • Antibiotic ointments
  • Steroid eye drops for severe inflammation
  • Drainage procedure (for persistent styes)

It’s important not to pop or squeeze a stye, as this can spread the infection. If your sty doesn’t improve after a few days or becomes increasingly painful, you should consult a healthcare provider.

Symptoms

A stye shows up as a red, pimple-like bump on the eyelid. People with styes often feel pain in the affected eyelid. The eyelid may also become swollen. Increased tear production is another common symptom.

A similar condition called a chalazion involves blockage of a small oil gland near the eyelid. Unlike styes, chalazions usually don’t hurt.

They tend to be more noticeable on the inner part of the eyelid. Both conditions can be treated using similar approaches.

Common stye symptoms:

• Red, boil-like lump on eyelid
• Pain in the eyelid
• Swelling
• Excessive tearing

When to See a Doctor

Most styes don’t harm your vision and often clear up on their own.

Call your healthcare provider if:

• Your stye shows no improvement after 48 hours
• Redness and swelling may spread to your entire eyelid or extend to your cheek or other facial areas

These signs may indicate a more serious infection that requires medical attention.

Causes

Styes happen when oil glands in the eyelid get infected. The main culprit is usually a bacterium called staphylococcus. This bacterium can infect the small oil glands along the edge of your eyelid.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your chances of developing a stye:

• Using unwashed hands to touch your eyes
• Inserting contact lenses with dirty hands or without proper disinfection
• Sleeping with eye makeup on
• Using outdated cosmetics

Conditions like blepharitis and rosacea can increase the likelihood of developing styes.

Preventing Eye Infections

Good eye care habits can help prevent infections. Here are several ways to protect your eyes:

Keep Hands Clean

• Wash hands with soap and warm water several times daily.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap isn’t available.
• Avoid touching your eyes with unwashed hands.

Use Cosmetics Safely

• Throw away old eye makeup
• Never share eye cosmetics with others
• Remove makeup before sleeping

Contact Lens Care

• If you wear contacts, always wash your hands before handling them.
• Follow proper disinfection guidelines from your eye doctor.

Apply Warm Compresses

• Using warm compresses regularly can help prevent styes from returning if you’ve had them before.

Treat Blepharitis Properly

• If you have this eyelid inflammation condition, follow your doctor’s specific care instructions to manage it effectively.