What should you know about painful stye?

A stye is a tender, localised swelling at the eyelid edge or within the lid. The area may look red, feel sore when touched and sometimes develop a small pus point. It can make the eyelid feel heavy, but a simple stye should not usually affect vision. Watery eyes or Eye Discharge can occur, while widespread redness may need a different explanation.

Do not squeeze or pierce the lump. Contact lens use, eye make-up and touching the eyelid can irritate it, so note whether symptoms began after any of these.

Apply a clean, comfortably warm compress to the closed eyelid for several minutes, repeating it through the day. Wash your hands before and after touching the area, gently clean away crusting, and pause eye make-up and contact lenses until the eye feels normal. Do not share towels. A pharmacist or clinician can advise whether any treatment is appropriate for your situation.

Seek urgent assessment for vision changes, severe eye pain, marked light sensitivity, fever, swelling spreading around the eye, or difficulty moving the eye. Arrange a GP Consultation if the lump is not improving, keeps returning, or the whole eyelid becomes increasingly swollen. A painless lump that persists may not be a typical stye and also deserves review.

Does this look like a stye or another eyelid problem? How should I clean the lid, and when can I restart contact lenses or eye make-up? What signs would mean the infection is spreading?