What happens if a stye doesnt go away

The medical term for stye is hordeolum. It's not uncommon to wake up noticing you've developed a stye overnight. It should resolve on its own within one to two weeks. Some people are prone to developing styes. People who have blepharitis , which causes redness and irritation of the eyelid, are more likely to develop styes.

Certain skin conditions, like eczema and acne, are risk factors for styes. Diabetes can also be a risk factor. However, it can cause discomfort. Avoid touching or trying to squeeze a stye, as this can spread the infection. To manage the pain and irritation of a stye, you can try applying a warm compress.

Use a clean cloth to prevent bacteria from causing additional styes to form. Soak it in hot water. Apply the warm compress to the affected eye for 10 to 15 minutes, up to five times a day. Doing this can speed up healing.

If there's any pus, warmth from a compress can help drain the stye. Don't try to squeeze or drain the bump manually. If a compress doesn't offer relief, see a doctor.

Avoid using anything around your eyes until the stye heals. This includes makeup and eye creams. Styes are not contagious. Rarely, a stye will not clear up on its own. They can prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection. Sometimes a doctor may suggest a steroid shot to reduce swelling.

In severe cases, a stye may need to be drained of fluid. Paracetamol will also help relieve the pain of a stye. Sometimes, antibiotic ointments may be needed and, occasionally, the person will need oral antibiotics taken by mouth. In some cases, a stye will need to be opened up lanced by a doctor, if the stye does not get better by itself. If the lump is still painful and hot after a few days, get your doctor to check your eye.

Warning — do not squeeze a stye Do not try to squeeze the pus out of a stye. If the stye is not ready to burst, the infected pus may be squeezed into the tissue next to the stye, causing the infection to spread further. Preventing spread of infection Suggestions to prevent the spread of infection include: Don't touch, rub or squeeze the stye. Dispose of a used 'compress' in a rubbish bin, so that others do not have to handle it.

Wash your hands frequently. Blocked sebaceous gland Skin is lubricated and waterproofed by a greasy substance called sebum, which is made by sebaceous glands. If a blocked sebaceous gland is in the eyelid, it may look similar to a stye when it swells with sebum , but it is not painful or red. Blocked sebaceous glands will often go without any treatment, but they may need to be cut out if the lump is irritating the eye.

Where to get help Your doctor Ophthalmologist eye specialist Optometrist. Things to remember A stye is an infection at the base of an eyelash in the follicle , usually caused by staphylococcal bacteria. Don't rub or squeeze the stye, as this can cause the infection to spread. Treatment options include hot compresses, antibiotic ointments, oral antibiotics or operating on the lump lancing to drain out the pus.

Styes [online article],Medical Encyclopedia adam. More information here. Styes in your eyes? Keep your eyes clean and resist the urge to rub, even during allergy season. This can go a long way toward avoiding these uncomfortable bumps. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. These can be very tiny or as large as a golf ball. They are benign but if they are longstanding more than several months they are not likely to resolve on their own.

This is caused by the fibrous tissue that forms in reaction to the inflammation of the chalazion. This situation could be treated by either injection with a steroid medication or surgical incision done under local anesthesia. If it is small and doesn't bother you, it can be observed.

In a small percentage of cases continued warm compresses may resolve the problem. Ask a New Question. Not every question will receive a direct response from an ophthalmologist. However, we will follow up with suggested ways to find appropriate information related to your question. Medical disclaimer.