What should you know about right eye stye?

A stye, also called a hordeolum, is a local inflamed lump at the eyelid edge or within the lid. It may look like a small pimple, with tenderness, swelling, watering, or a crust near an eyelash. A stye can make the surrounding eye look red, but it does not normally cause lasting vision change. An internal stye may feel deeper and make the whole lid swollen. A firm, less tender lump that remains after the inflammation settles may be a different blocked gland and should be checked if it persists.

Place a clean warm, not hot, compress over the closed eyelid for about ten minutes, repeating it several times through the day. Wash your hands before and after touching the area. Keep the eyelid clean and avoid eye makeup and contact lenses while it is inflamed. Do not pop, pierce, or squeeze the lump, as this can spread inflammation. Use a separate face towel and replace eye makeup that may have touched the affected eye. A pharmacist or clinician can advise if discomfort is troublesome or if the lump is not improving.

Arrange prompt medical assessment if swelling spreads across the cheek or around the eye, the eye becomes difficult to open, vision changes, eye movement hurts, or you feel feverish or unwell. Seek advice if the stye keeps returning, multiple lumps appear, or it does not improve with careful home care. Thick discharge, marked redness, or a gritty irritated eye may point to another problem as well as a stye; see a clinician for an examination rather than sharing drops with someone else.

Is this a stye or another eyelid lump? How should I clean the lid? When can I restart contact lenses or eye makeup?