How do you treat a stye?

A stye is an inflamed eyelash follicle or oil gland at the eyelid edge. Treatment aims to encourage natural drainage and reduce irritation without injuring the lid. A warm compress should feel soothing, not hot enough to burn. Antibiotic treatment is not automatically needed for every eyelid bump, and medicine should be selected by a clinician when infection has spread or another diagnosis is suspected. A deep, recurrent, or painless lump may need a different plan.

Wash your hands, close the eye, and hold a clean warm cloth against the lid for several minutes. Repeat this during the day with a clean cloth or clean section each time. Gently clean away any crust without scrubbing the bump. Never squeeze, lance, or pop it. Stop eye makeup and contact lenses until irritation has cleared, and do not share towels or cosmetics. If simple care is not helping, book a GP Consultation for an examination.

Get prompt medical advice for spreading redness, severe pain, rapidly increasing swelling, reduced or blurred vision, light sensitivity, pain when moving the eye, fever, or feeling unwell. Assessment is also appropriate when discharge is heavy, the eye is very red, or styes recur. Eye Discharge and Red Eye can have causes that need different care.

Ask which treatment fits the location and appearance of the lump, whether you should use any prescribed eye medicine, and when to restart contact lenses. Explain how long it has been present and whether pain, discharge, or vision has changed.