Stye (hordeolum)

What it is

A stye is a localised infection or intense inflammation at the edge of the eyelid. An external stye points at the lash line and often has a visible yellow head. An internal stye forms under the lid skin from a meibomian gland and may feel deeper and more painful.

Symptoms

Styes usually affect one eye.

• Tender red lump on the lid margin or under the skin
• Pain when blinking or touching the lid
• Watering and mild grittiness
• Sometimes a yellow spot at the lash root
• Occasional swelling of the whole eyelid

Stye versus chalazion

A stye is usually painful and acute. A chalazion is a painless firm lump from a blocked oil gland without active infection — it develops more slowly and may last weeks. Warm compresses help both, but chalazia sometimes need steroid injection or minor surgery if they block vision or persist.

Treatment

Do not squeeze or pierce a stye yourself — that can spread infection.

• Warm compress 4–6 times daily for 10 minutes
• Gentle lid massage after warming if advised
• Clean crusts at the lash line if blepharitis is present
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain if suitable for you
• Antibiotic ointment or tablets if prescribed for spreading infection

Prevention

Recurrent styes often link to blepharitis or MGD. Daily lid hygiene, replacing old eye makeup, washing hands before touching eyes, and careful contact-lens hygiene reduce recurrence. Manage diabetes and rosacea if present.

When to seek care

Same-day assessment if the entire eyelid is very swollen and hot, vision is blurred, you cannot open the eye, you feel unwell with fever, or you wear contact lenses. Urgent care if redness spreads to the cheek (possible orbital cellulitis).