A stye is an infection of the oil-producing glands on your eyelids. Bacteria present in these glands, called the sebaceous glands, cause an inflammation that forms a bump called a stye, or a hordeolum. Styes can swell and become red and painful. Most styes can be remedied at home without professional medical intervention, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Step 1
Apply a warm, damp compress made from a soft washcloth and warm water. Styes must drain before they heal; the warmth helps promote drainage. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends using a warm compress four times daily, for approximately 10 minutes at a time.
Step 2
Wash your hands and face frequently while you have a stye. Use a mild, unscented soap to prevent further irritation. Personal hygiene practices can help keep the infection from spreading to the other eye or to other areas on your face.
Step 3
Apply an antibiotic ointment to the infected eyelid, as directed by your doctor. The topical medication does not cause the stye to drain more quickly, but can help contain the infection to the localized area only.
Step 4
Avoid touching or squeezing the stye, or otherwise trying to drain it manually. With consistent treatment, the infection will drain on its own. Your doctor may lance the stye if drainage does not occur spontaneously.
Things You'll Need
- Warm compress
- Soap
- Antibiotic ointment
