What should you know about a stye that is not painful?

A stye, also called a hordeolum, starts when an eyelid gland or lash follicle becomes blocked and inflamed. Tenderness is common early, yet a small lump can remain after discomfort settles. A deeper, firmer blockage is often called a chalazion and may have little redness or pain. A bump beside the eye is not necessarily an eyelid stye, so its exact position matters.

Notice whether the lump is on the eyelid edge, whether the eye itself is red, and whether there is discharge, blurred vision or light sensitivity. Eye discharge and red eye can provide useful details for a clinician.

Wash your hands before touching the area. Hold a clean, comfortably warm cloth over the closed eyelid for about ten minutes, then gently massage toward the eyelashes if this does not hurt. Repeat this several times through the day with a freshly cleaned cloth. Keep contact lenses and eye make-up out of the affected eye until it settles, and do not squeeze, pierce or scrape the lump.

If the swelling stays firm, returns, or interferes with vision, arrange a GP consultation for an examination. A clinician can distinguish a stye from other eyelid lumps and discuss whether further treatment is appropriate.

Seek prompt medical care if pain or redness spreads around the eye, the eyelid becomes markedly swollen, vision changes, eye movement hurts, or you develop fever. Arrange an assessment for a lump that does not improve, keeps recurring, bleeds, loses eyelashes, or changes appearance. These features do not prove a serious cause, but they should not be ignored.

Ask whether the lump is on the eyelid gland or elsewhere, whether it resembles a chalazion, and how long home care should continue. Mention any eye discharge, red eye, vision change, contact-lens use, previous eyelid lumps and products applied to the area.