When to worry about eye discharge with a stye

A stye is a tender, inflamed lump near an eyelash or eyelid gland. Mild sticky or crusty discharge can happen as the area drains. The eyelid may feel sore, gritty, or swollen, and the discharge may collect after sleep. Discharge that is heavy, continues after the lump settles, or affects the whole eye can have another cause, such as conjunctival inflammation.

Wash your hands before touching the eyelid. Apply a clean warm compress to the closed eye for several minutes, repeating it through the day, and gently clean away crusts with clean water. Do not squeeze or pierce the stye. Avoid eye makeup and contact lenses until the eye is comfortable and the discharge has stopped. Do not share towels, cosmetics, or eye drops.

Arrange medical advice if discharge is increasing, the redness spreads beyond the eyelid, the eyelid becomes markedly swollen, or symptoms are not improving. Seek urgent care for reduced or blurred vision, pain with moving the eye, marked light sensitivity, fever with facial swelling, or severe eye pain. A clinician can check whether infection has spread and whether treatment needs to be changed.

Ask whether the discharge fits a stye or suggests another eye problem, how long to continue warm compresses, and which symptoms should prompt same-day review. Mention contact-lens use, recurrent styes, vision changes, fever, and any medicines or eye products you have used.