Stye (Hordeolum)
A stye (hordeolum) is a red, painful bump on the eyelid margin caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle or oil gland. It is common, usually harmless to vision, and often drains on its own, but spreading swelling beyond the eyelid needs a doctor.
Key Points
- Starts as localized redness, swelling and mild pain on the lid edge (often lower lid, towards the inner corner)
- Later forms a white/yellow "head" like a pimple and may discharge pus - drainage usually relieves pressure and pain
- Not itchy typically (itching points more to allergy)
- Never pop, squeeze or pierce it - can push infection deeper into eyelid tissue
- Not generally contagious via casual contact; avoid sharing towels, washcloths, pillowcases, eye drops, eye makeup; wash hands often
- Use glasses instead of contact lenses until fully healed
Differential (look-alikes)
- Chalazion: blocked oil gland; looks like a stye early but becomes painless after a few days
- Allergic reaction / insect bite: mild localized swelling, usually itchy
- Dacryocystitis: infection/inflammation of the tear sac at the inner corner of the eye
- Preseptal cellulitis: infection of skin around the eye - suspect when swelling/redness spreads from the lid margin into the under-eye area, cheek or face
Home Care
- Warm compress: clean washcloth soaked in warm (not hot) water, wrung out, held on the closed eye 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times a day - liquefies trapped oil and helps drainage
- Lid hygiene: gently clean lid edge with warm water or a little diluted tear-free baby shampoo
- Discharge: wipe with a clean damp cotton pad or sterile wipe from the inner corner outward, discard immediately, wash hands before and after
When to See a Doctor
- Swelling or pain worsens, or no improvement after 48-72 hours of warm compresses
- Swelling or redness spreads beyond the eyelid (under-eye, cheek, face) - see a doctor promptly, don't wait out the 72 hours
- Blurry or changed vision
- Eye swollen shut, or thick colored discharge
Typical Prescribed Treatment (Example)
Example regimen for a stye with spreading under-eye swelling (right eye, India):
| Medicine | Type | Purpose | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moxifloxacin eye drops (e.g. Moxituc) | Antibiotic drop | Treat local infection at the source | 4x/day for 1 week |
| Lubricant eye drops (e.g. Purewet) | Artificial tears | Soothe irritation, flush discharge, offset drying/stinging from antibiotic | 4x/day for 1 week |
| Amoxicillin-clavulanate 625 mg (Amoxyclav) | Oral antibiotic | Treat infection spread into deeper/surrounding tissue | TDS (3x/day, after meals) for 5 days |
| Pantoprazole 40 mg (Pan) | Antacid (PPI) | Protect stomach from antibiotic upset | Once daily, before breakfast (BBF) |
- Drop order: antibiotic first (on a "bare" eye for best absorption), wait at least 10 minutes, then lubricant - otherwise the second drop washes out the first
- Don't touch the bottle tip to eye or lashes
- Complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms vanish early
- Is oral antibiotic necessary? Simple localized styes often resolve with warm compresses alone; oral antibiotics are used when infection has spread to surrounding skin (possible preseptal cellulitis), because tissue around the eye is delicate
- Pantoprazole and lubricant drops are supportive (comfort/side-effect management), not curative
- Moxifloxacin burning: brief stinging after instillation is common; stop and call the doctor if burning is severe or lasts more than a few minutes, eye gets much redder/swollen/itchy (allergy), or vision blurs
Questions to Ask the Doctor
- Is this a stye, chalazion, or something else? Has it spread to surrounding skin (preseptal cellulitis)?
- Do I need antibiotic drops/ointment? Does it need professional drainage?
- How long and how often should I continue warm compresses? When can I resume contact lenses?
- What warning signs mean I should return immediately? How long until it heals?
- What lid hygiene routine prevents recurrence?
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Disclaimer: AI-generated information for reference only; consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.