Stye

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? A stye (STI) is an infection (in-FEK-shun) on the margin (edge) or inside of your eyelid. It is sometimes called an external hordeolum (hor-DEE-oh-lum). Styes form more often in children and in people who have an eye problem called blepharitis (blef-ah-REYE-tis). A stye can form on your upper (top) or lower (bottom) eyelid. It usually goes away in two to four days, but may last longer.

What causes a stye? A stye forms when a germ called bacteria (bak-TEE-ree-ah) gets into a skin gland or follicle (FOL-i-kl). A follicle is the place at the edge of the eyelid where the eyelash comes out. As the bacteria grows, the gland or follicle reddens and swells.

What are the signs and symptoms of a stye?

• Your eyelid margin becomes warm, red, and swollen. A small area may swell, or the entire eyelid may swell.
  
  
• A painful or tender pus-filled lump may form. The lump may form a point or "head" within a few days. The head may look like a pimple with a white or yellow top.
  
  
• Your eye may feel gritty.
  
  
• Your eye may make more tears than usual.
  
  
• Your eye may be sensitive to light.

How can I treat my stye at home?

• Put a clean, warm compress on your eye for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times each day. The compress may help decrease the swelling and pain. To make a compress, soak a wash cloth in warm water. Wring out the wash cloth and place it gently over your eye.
  
  
• Do not squeeze the stye. Keep your hands away from your eyes to prevent spreading the infection to other parts of the eye. Wash your hands often with soap and dry with a clean towel.
  
  
• Help prevent getting another stye by washing your face and cleaning your eyelashes every day. Use make-up remover rather than just soap and water to remove eye make-up. This prevents heavy rubbing of your eyes and more completely removes the make-up.
  
  
• Your eye make-up may have germs in it which may have caused the stye. Do not wear eye make-up while you have a stye. Throw away eye make-up and brushes used to apply the make-up. Use new eye make-up after the stye has gone away. Do not share eye make-up with others.

Call your caregiver if:

• You have redness and discharge around your eye, and your eye pain is getting worse.
  
  
• Your vision changes.
  
  
• The stye has not gone away within seven days. You may have a chalazion (kah-LAY-zee-on), which is an infection in an oil gland. This may need to be drained by your caregiver and treated with medicine.
  
  
• The stye comes back within a short period of time after treatment.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page