A stye is a small, painful lump on or inside the eyelid or around the eye. The NHS says the skin around it may be swollen and red, the stye may be filled with yellow pus, and your eye may be red and watery, but your vision should not be affected. A stye usually only affects one eye.
Most styes can be treated at home. If there is no lump, it is more likely to be conjunctivitis or blepharitis, and a hard lump that is not very painful is more likely to be a chalazion.
How to treat a stye yourself
- Soak a clean flannel in warm water and hold it against your eye for 5 to 10 minutes
- Repeat 2 to 4 times a day
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain (do not give aspirin to children under 16)
- Avoid contact lenses and eye make-up until the stye has burst and healed
- Do not try to burst a stye or remove an eyelash yourself, as this can spread the infection
When to get help
See a GP if a stye does not get better within a few weeks. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if it is very painful or swollen, affects your vision, your eye is producing pus, or the infection has spread to your eye or eyelid. A GP may burst the stye with a sterile needle, remove the nearest eyelash, or refer you to an eye specialist.
Preventing styes
Styes are often caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland, and are more likely if you have long-term blepharitis or rosacea.
- Wash your face and remove eye make-up before bed
- Keep your eyelids and lashes clean, especially if you have blepharitis
- Wash your hands before touching contact lenses
- Do not share towels or flannels with someone who has a stye
