If you wake up one morning with a little bump on your eyelid, there’s a good chance that it’s a “stye“. Styes are bacterial infections that block the oil producing glands around your eyelashes. These little bumps are harmless and will likely go away in a few days. In some severe cases, large styes require surgical draining and the use of antibiotics. But the best treatment is one that you can do entirely on your own, at home.
Here are a few quick tips on treating styes:
1. Apply a warm compress 2-3 times a day (e.g., a towel soaked in warm water)
2. Don’t rub!
3. If the stye is painful and doesn’t go away in a few days, come in for a checkup.
That’s it – quick and easy.
I have had a Sty since October, at first it hurt a bit but got better, but it has never gone away, I am now going in on March 2nd to have it looked at and they said that they may have to remove… that it is not a sty any more…
If you get a sty do not hold off on going to the dr if it is not gone with in 2 weeks!
Beka is absolutely correct. If your stye does not go away within a couple of weeks – after aggressive treatment of warm compresses and lid massages – I tell my patients to come back for a follow-up visit for further care. In some cases this may include oral antibiotics or an excision of the stye.
LOL I had surgery on my eye on March 2. It is now gone!!! YEAH Take look at what I had to do to get rid of it! http://grassyhill.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/it-is-all-gone/
hi
I have one in my eyes.. which is a bit hard.. I did warm compress and it become a little bit lossy and after a few days it opened and some stuff got out.. but it is still the same..
I could send u a picture..
hope to hear soon
Hi Ali – My suggestion is that you continue to do warm compresses in combination with a lid massage, at least 5 times per day. This may help loosen any skin oils and soften the stye. If it doesn’t go away within 2 weeks you may need antibiotics. Be sure to visit your eye doctor if the condition persists. Good luck.
Nice clear advice.Good luck with your blog.
OK, so what if there is a clear bump on the white of the eye-ball? That’s not a stye, is it?
Dear Curious,
If there is a clear or white raised bump on your conjunctiva, it could be a cyst or pinguecula which should be evaluated by your eye doctor.
Dr. Chatwani
Dang, I’m 17 and I got this. Me not knowing what it was thought it was some sort of disease or pimple or something. I’m so glad I looked it up on the internet before freaking out to much though. Thanks for all the clear and direct info.
Thanks Andrew for your feedback and kind words.
Wow- this was very helpful. I just noticed the bump today. Started out as a pain, now it is visibly a bump. I drive my vespa around a lot lately and notice that I also have a cough, I am thinking that the exhaust from cars is causing the infection? I am going to the pharmacy to buy a warm press today. I took a photo to see how long it will take to simmer down.
Hello Sonia,
It does take time for it to heal but you should continue to use the warm compresses and apply the correct medication. If the swelling does not get better then you should follow up with your surgeon to rule out any other infection.
Thanks,
Dr.Chatwani
Hey Chris,
I sent an earlier message but it looks like it did not go through. So what was the result of our eye doctor’s visit on March 12th. Are they going to try a surgical option or oral antibiotics or just watch it?
Thanks,
Dr.Chatwani
Hi Jennifer. Continual lid hygiene is important, and it sounds like you have a good routine. But in severe cases like this I typically suggest an oral antibiotic, which often helps to clear up the situation. Talk to your general doctor or your eye doctor to find the right antibiotic and dosage for you.