A stye is a red, tender bump on the edge of the eyelid caused by a blocked, infected oil gland. Most heal in 1 to 2 weeks with warm compresses. Urgent Care Center of Westmont checks eyelid bumps, rules out spreading infection and explains what will help it heal.
A stye forms when an oil gland at the edge of the eyelid gets blocked and bacteria grow inside it.
MedlinePlus advises a warm, wet cloth for 10 minutes, four times a day.
Never squeeze or pop a stye. Squeezing can spread the infection.
Cleveland Clinic says most styes last one to two weeks and are generally not contagious.
A chalazion is a firmer bump that is usually not painful and often goes away in about a month.
How we evaluate a stye at our Westmont, IL clinic
Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, sees children and adults with eyelid bumps, swelling and redness seven days a week. Our team is led by board-certified physicians. Walk in to either Westmont, IL clinic or check in online.
Look closelyYour clinician examines the eyelid, lashes and eye to tell a stye from a chalazion, blepharitis or pink eye.
Check for spreadYour clinician looks for redness spreading across the eyelid or face, fever, and any change in your vision.
Recommend treatmentMost styes heal with home care. When needed, your clinician can recommend treatment, which may include a prescription antibiotic ointment or medicine by mouth when appropriate.
Plan next stepsSome large styes need to be drained by a clinician. If yours does, or if styes keep coming back, your clinician will explain your options and whether you should see an eye specialist.
MedlinePlus says stye draining should never be done at home. Leave that to a medical professional.
Stye symptoms: what to look for
MedlinePlus describes a stye as a red, swollen bump that looks like a pimple and is often tender to the touch. Other signs can include:
A gritty feeling, like something is in your eye
Sensitivity to light
Tearing
A sore or swollen eyelid
Crusting along the lash line
Itching or mild discharge
Cleveland Clinic explains that an external stye forms on the outer edge of the eyelid, usually at an eyelash root, and is the most common type. An internal stye forms on the inner side of the eyelid, facing the eye.
What causes styes, and are they contagious?
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Most styes come from a bacterial infection in a blocked oil gland. MedlinePlus notes that tiny Demodex mites can make styes worse, and that blepharitis, an ongoing inflammation of the eyelid edges, raises the risk.
Cleveland Clinic lists other risk factors, including a history of styes, acne, rosacea, dandruff, dry skin, hormone changes, high LDL cholesterol and diabetes. If you get styes often, ask whether diabetes testing makes sense for you.
Styes are generally not contagious. Small amounts of bacteria can still spread, so wash your hands before and after touching your eye, and wash pillowcases often.
Stye or chalazion: how to tell the difference
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Stye
Right at the lash line
Red, tender and sore
Caused by a bacterial infection
Often comes to a head and drains
Usually lasts one to two weeks
Chalazion
Farther back on the eyelid
Firm and usually not painful
A blocked gland, not an infection
Often follows a stye that did not drain
Often goes away in about a month
MedlinePlus says a chalazion that keeps growing may need a small procedure or a steroid injection from an eye specialist. It also notes that, rarely, eyelid skin cancer can look like a chalazion, so a bump that keeps returning in the same spot, or causes eyelashes to fall out, should be checked.
How to get rid of a stye at home
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Wash your hands well.
Soak a clean washcloth in warm (not hot) water and wring it out.
Hold it on the closed eyelid for 10 minutes. Do this four times a day, as MedlinePlus advises.
Gently clean the lid edge with warm water and a drop of no-tears baby shampoo.
Use an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed, following the label.
Skip eye makeup and contact lenses until the stye has healed.
Warm compresses soften the oil that is clogging the gland so it can drain on its own. Read why heat draws out infections to learn more. Do not squeeze, poke or try to pop a stye.
How long does a stye last?
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Typical stye timeline with home care (general guide)
Time
What usually happens
Get checked if
Days 1 to 3
A tender red bump forms over a few days.
Redness spreads across the eyelid or you have a fever
Days 3 to 7
The bump may come to a head and drain on its own.
No improvement after 48 hours of warm compresses
1 to 2 weeks
Most styes are gone.
The bump is still there after 1 to 2 weeks
Up to about a month
A leftover firm lump may be a chalazion.
It keeps growing or affects your vision
Timelines come from Cleveland Clinic and MedlinePlus. Cleveland Clinic advises seeing a provider if pain or swelling increases after two to three days of home care, if your eye swells shut, or if pus or blood leaks from the bump.
Styes in children and older adults
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Children rub their eyes often, which can spread bacteria to the eyelid. Help them wash hands, use a clean warm compress, and keep fingers away from the bump. If your child's eyelid is very swollen, red or warm, or they have a fever, bring them in. Our pediatric urgent care team sees kids of all ages.
For adults, blepharitis and dry, irritated eyelids can lead to repeat styes. Any eyelid bump that keeps coming back in the same place, bleeds, or causes lash loss should be looked at by a clinician.
How to prevent styes
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Wash your hands before touching the skin around your eyes or handling contact lenses.
If you are prone to styes or have blepharitis, gently clean your lid edges with warm water and no-tears baby shampoo, as MedlinePlus suggests.
Remove eye makeup at night, and do not share makeup or eye products.
Wash pillowcases and face towels often.
Ask your clinician whether fish oil or treatment for eyelid mites could help if styes keep returning.
Cost and insurance for a stye visit
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We accept most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare. Please call (630) 324-6825 to confirm your plan. Visit our cost and insurance page for the full list. Self-pay general visits start from $125.
Use a warm, wet cloth on the closed eyelid for 10 minutes, four times a day. The warmth helps the blocked gland drain. Keep the area clean, skip makeup and contacts, and never squeeze it. If it is not improving after 48 hours of home care, or it keeps getting bigger, have it checked.
How long does a stye last?
Cleveland Clinic says most styes last one to two weeks and often heal on their own. MedlinePlus advises getting care if a stye is not improving within one to two weeks. A firm lump left behind may be a chalazion, which often goes away in about a month.
Is a stye contagious?
Styes are generally not contagious. They form when a gland in your own eyelid gets blocked and infected. Small amounts of bacteria can spread, so wash your hands after touching the area, use your own towel and wash pillowcases often.
Should I pop a stye?
No. MedlinePlus warns that squeezing a stye can spread the infection. Let it drain on its own with warm compresses. If a stye needs draining, it should only be done by a medical professional, never at home.
What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?
A stye is an infected gland at the lash line that is red and tender. A chalazion is a blocked gland farther back on the eyelid that is firm and usually not painful. A chalazion often follows a stye that did not fully drain.
Can urgent care treat a stye?
Yes. Our clinicians examine the eyelid, check that infection is not spreading and recommend treatment, which may include a prescription ointment or medicine when appropriate. If a stye needs draining or keeps coming back, they will explain your options.
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