Stye below the eye: what to know

A lower-lid stye usually sits at the eyelid margin or just beneath it, so the bump can seem to be under the eye. It may feel tender and look red, with watering or a small yellow point. A lump deeper in the cheek, swelling of the whole lower eyelid, or redness extending beyond the lid is less typical and should be checked. [Red Eye](/symptoms/red-eye/) and [Eye Discharge](/symptoms/eye-discharge/) can occur with other eye conditions as well.

Clean your hands, close the eye, and place a clean warm compress over the area for several minutes. Repeat regularly with a fresh or laundered cloth. Keep the eyelid clean without scrubbing, and leave the bump alone rather than squeezing it. Do not put household substances into the eye. Remove contact lenses and avoid eye cosmetics until irritation has cleared. Do not use someone else’s drops.

Contact a clinician if the lower-lid swelling keeps enlarging, returns repeatedly, or has not started improving with home care. Get urgent help if pain is severe, vision becomes blurred or reduced, light is difficult to tolerate, fever develops, or the skin around the eye becomes increasingly swollen or red. A [GP Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/) is appropriate when the diagnosis is uncertain.

Ask whether the bump is on the eyelid or in nearby skin, whether any prescribed treatment is needed, and how to recognise infection spreading around the eye. Tell the clinician about contact lenses, discharge, fever, and vision changes.