Superdrug Health

Eyes

A stye is a minor infection at the root of an eyelash which forms a small spot or pimple on the eyelid. Pus from the infection gathers giving the swelling a yellow colour and making it feel hard and painful. Styes are more common on the upper eye lid, but can form on the lower lid too. Everybody is prone to getting styes, but they are particularly likely to occur in children. Styes are not serious, they do not harm vision and usually resolve by themselves within a few days.

Another type of painful swelling in the eyelid, called a chalazion, is caused by enlargement of a blocked oil gland in the eyelid. A chalazion looks like a stye for the first few days but is further back from the edge of the eyelid. It later turns into a painless hard round bump that lingers for several weeks or even months.

Styes are caused by an infection with bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. The bacteria are frequently present in the nose and so can easily be transferred to the eye by rubbing the nose then touching the eye.

At first, there is pain, redness, tenderness and swelling over the stye, after which a small pimple-like area appears. You may notice watering in the affected eye and a feeling that something is in the eye. You may have increased sensitivity to light. Sometimes the infection causes the whole eyelid to become red and to swell. At its point, a small yellow head may appear and a bead of pus may come out from the spot. Often the eyelash will dislodge at this time.

Medicines

Most styes heal within a few days on their own or with hot compress treatment. You can relieve pain and help the stye to come to a head by bathing the affected eye frequently with a hot flannel. Once it has come to a head, a single stye can be treated by gently pulling out the affected eyelash with eye tweezers. If the infection spreads from the stye to involve the whole eyelid or if you get repeated styes, you may need treatment with an antibiotic. Styes forming inside the eyelid may be more painful and difficult to treat and may require medical help. Chalazions in the eyelid rarely cause problems, but may be unsightly and require removal for cosmetic reasons.

Although most styes usually get better on their own within a few days, antibiotic eye drops or ointment are available from your local pharmacy which may help soothe the pain and prevent the infection from spreading. Paracetamol may be recommended to relieve pain.

See your doctor if the infection spreads from the stye to involve the whole eyelid, if repeated styes develop or if the stye is particularly painful or troublesome.