What should you know about repeated stye in eye?

A stye is a tender, inflamed lump near an eyelash or eyelid gland. Blocked oil glands, rubbing the eyes, eye makeup, contact-lens habits or ongoing eyelid irritation can contribute. A stye may cause local redness, swelling, tenderness or eye discharge. Repeated lumps are not always styes; a painless, persistent lump may be a different type of blocked gland and deserves examination.

Apply a clean, comfortably warm compress to the closed eyelid for several minutes, repeating it through the day if it feels soothing. Keep hands and eyelids clean, avoid squeezing the lump, and pause eye makeup and contact lenses until the eye has recovered. Do not use someone else’s eye drops. A GP consultation can help when styes recur, fail to settle, or keep appearing in the same place.

Seek urgent assessment for reduced or blurred vision, severe eye pain, pain with eye movement, marked swelling around the eye, fever, spreading redness, or difficulty opening the eye. Prompt care is also appropriate when redness involves the whole eye or symptoms worsen quickly, because these features may represent more than a local eyelid lump.

Ask whether the lump is a stye or another eyelid problem, how to clean the eyelids safely, whether your makeup or lenses may contribute, and which eye changes require same-day care.