Stye

Symptoms of a stye include:

• a lump on your eyelid
• redness and swelling around the eyelid
• pain when you touch it

A stye usually forms on the edge of your eyelid, close to your eyelashes.

A stye may make your eye feel irritated and watery. You may feel like there is something 'stuck' in your eye.

Styes are caused by a bacterial infection affecting the glands in the eyelid and around the eyelashes. This can happen if you have bacteria on your hands and touch the area around your eyes. It can also happen if your glands are blocked by oil or sweat.

You might get a stye if you:

• do not use proper hand hygiene when putting in and taking out your contact lenses
• do not remove your makeup before going to sleep
• have a weaker immune system

You should see a doctor if:

• the stye blocks your vision
• the lump or lumps become large or painful
• you have a blister on your eyelid
• the whole eyelid or the eye itself is red
• your eye is sensitive to light, or you have more tears than usual
• another stye comes back soon after one has been treated

You should see your doctor if the eyelid lump worsens or does not get better within a week or two of self-care.

Your doctor can diagnose a stye by looking at your eye and asking about your symptoms. They will also check your vision and look more closely at your eyes and eyelids with a special lamp.

Your doctor may do other tests if they think there may be an underlying condition causing your stye.

Styes usually clear up by themselves in a few weeks with eyelid hygiene. Sometimes, it might take up to 6 months for the lump to disappear completely.

Here are some things you can do to help a stye heal:

• Hold a warm compress against your closed eyelid for 2 to 5 minutes at a time. This should be a clean, warm washcloth. The water should be warm, but take care not to burn yourself. You can do this up to 20 times a day. Gently massage your eyelid while holding the warm compress.
• Try not to touch, rub or squeeze the stye. This can push pus into the area next to the eye, and the infection may spread further.
• You may notice discharge after using a warm compress. You can clean your eyelid by gently wiping away any discharge with a clean, warm washcloth.

Antibiotics are usually not needed to treat a stye. However, antibiotic ointments or oral antibiotics may be needed if the skin around the stye becomes infected. This means the skin around the stye gets:

• red
• warm
• swollen

If a stye does not go away by itself, a doctor may need to drain it with a needle.

Cellulitis is when the infection from the stye spreads to the surrounding skin. This is urgent and needs immediate treatment.

Cellulitis may cause red, swollen, or painful skin on your eyelid or the eye itself. If the infection spreads to your blood, it can cause other symptoms including fever and feeling generally unwell.

Cellulitis is a rare but serious complication that can harm your eyesight and may be life-threatening.

See your doctor straight away if you notice complications or if your treatment is not working.

If a stye does not go away, it can become a chalazion. A chalazion is a painless lump on the eyelid. Treatment is similar, but it may take longer to clear than a stye. Sometimes it needs surgery to remove it.

Ways to prevent getting styes or spreading infections include:

• Wash your hands well.
• Avoid touching, rubbing or squeezing your eyes.
• Throw away or wash your washcloth or warm compress after use.
• Remove your makeup before going to bed.

Some skin conditions can also increase your risk of getting styes, such as:

• blepharitis
• rosacea
• hormonal changes

The Centre for Eye Research Australia has a range of eye health resources (Opens in new tab) for people of all ages.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Languages other than English

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital has fact sheets (Opens in new tab) about eye health (Opens in new tab) in many community languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Visit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework website for information on eye health (Opens in new tab) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.