A stye, also spelled sty, is a common eye condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It appears as a red, painful lump near the edge of your eyelid, resembling a pimple or boil. Medically known as a hordeolum, a stye develops when oil glands or hair follicles around the eyelid become blocked and infected, typically by bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus.
While styes are generally harmless and often resolve on their own within a week or two, recognizing the symptoms early can help you manage the condition more effectively and prevent complications. Understanding what causes a stye and identifying its warning signs is crucial for proper eye care. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the ten most common symptoms of a stye, helping you distinguish between a stye and other eye conditions.
1. Red, Swollen Bump on the Eyelid
The most characteristic symptom of a stye is a red, swollen bump that appears on or near the edge of your eyelid. This bump typically develops over the course of a few days and can occur on either the upper or lower eyelid.
The bump may start small but can grow to the size of a pea. It often looks similar to a pimple on the eyelid, with a visible head or center point. An external stye (hordeolum externum) appears on the outside edge of the eyelid, while an internal stye (hordeolum internum) develops on the inner side of the eyelid, making it less visible but often more uncomfortable.
The redness around the bump is caused by inflammation and increased blood flow to the affected area as your body’s immune system responds to the bacterial infection. The swelling occurs due to the accumulation of pus, inflammatory cells, and fluid in the blocked gland.
2. Pain and Tenderness
Pain is one of the most bothersome symptoms of a stye. The affected area becomes tender to touch, and you may experience discomfort even without touching it. The pain can range from mild to moderate and may intensify when you blink or close your eyes.
The level of pain often depends on the size and location of the stye. Internal styes, which develop inside the eyelid, tend to be more painful than external ones because they put pressure on the sensitive inner eyelid tissue. The pain is caused by the inflammation and pressure build-up from the infection within the confined space of the oil gland.
Some people describe the sensation as a throbbing or aching feeling around the eyelid. The pain typically peaks when the stye is at its largest, just before it drains or begins to heal. Activities that increase blood flow to the area, such as rubbing your eyes or applying pressure, can temporarily worsen the pain.
3. Excessive Tearing
Many people with a stye experience increased tear production in the affected eye. This excessive tearing, also called epiphora, is your eye’s natural defense mechanism responding to the irritation caused by the stye.
The tears are produced by the lacrimal glands to help flush out any potential irritants and provide a protective barrier for the eye surface. When a stye develops, the inflammation and physical presence of the bump can trigger this reflexive tearing response. You may notice your eye appearing watery or tears running down your cheek, even when you’re not emotionally upset.
This symptom can be particularly noticeable in cold weather or windy conditions, which naturally stimulate tear production. The excessive tearing usually subsides as the stye heals and the irritation decreases.
4. Feeling of Something in Your Eye
A persistent sensation that something is stuck in your eye is a common complaint among people with styes. This feeling, known medically as a foreign body sensation, can be quite bothersome and distracting throughout the day.
The sensation occurs because the swollen bump on your eyelid creates an irregular surface that rubs against your eyeball with every blink. This is especially true for internal styes, where the bump protrudes inward toward the eye surface. Your eye is extremely sensitive, and even small irregularities can create a noticeable uncomfortable feeling.
You might feel an urge to rub your eye or blink repeatedly to try to dislodge what feels like a foreign object, even though nothing is actually in your eye. Resisting this urge is important, as rubbing can worsen the infection and delay healing. The foreign body sensation typically improves as the swelling reduces and the stye begins to resolve.
5. Crusting Along the Eyelid
Crusting or scaling along the eyelid margin is another telltale sign of a stye. You may notice yellowish or whitish crusty material forming around the base of your eyelashes or along the edge of your eyelid, particularly after sleeping.
This crust forms from dried discharge that seeps from the infected gland. The discharge contains dead white blood cells, bacteria, oil, and other debris from the infection. During sleep, this material accumulates and dries, creating the crusty appearance you see upon waking.
The crusting may cause your eyelashes to stick together, making it difficult or uncomfortable to open your eye in the morning. You might also notice some flaking or scaling of the skin around the stye. Gently cleaning the area with warm water can help remove the crust, but it’s important to do so carefully to avoid spreading the infection or causing additional irritation.
6. Increased Sensitivity to Light
Photophobia, or increased sensitivity to light, can occur when you have a stye in your eye. You may find yourself squinting or feeling discomfort when exposed to bright lights, whether natural sunlight or artificial indoor lighting.
This symptom develops because the inflammation associated with the stye affects the entire eyelid and can indirectly impact the eye itself. When you have a stye, blinking becomes more uncomfortable, and your eye may not close completely or smoothly, reducing your ability to regulate light exposure naturally.
Additionally, the excessive tearing that often accompanies a stye can temporarily affect your vision and make your eyes more reactive to bright light. The inflamed tissues around the eye become more sensitive overall, amplifying your normal light sensitivity response. Wearing sunglasses when outdoors or dimming indoor lights can help provide some relief from this symptom until the stye heals.
7. Eyelid Swelling Beyond the Bump
While a stye starts as a localized bump, the swelling can sometimes extend beyond the immediate area of infection to involve a larger portion of your eyelid. In some cases, the entire eyelid may become puffy and swollen.
This more extensive swelling occurs when the inflammatory response spreads to surrounding tissues. The eyelid contains loose connective tissue that can easily accumulate fluid when inflamed, leading to noticeable puffiness. You might observe that your eyelid appears droopy or heavy due to the swelling.
Severe cases may result in swelling that partially or completely closes the eye, though this is less common. The swelling is typically worse in the morning after lying down during sleep, as fluid accumulates in the horizontal position. Standing up and moving around usually helps reduce some of the puffiness as gravity assists with fluid drainage. If the swelling becomes severe or spreads to other parts of your face, it’s important to seek medical attention as this could indicate a more serious infection.
8. Blurred Vision
Some people with a stye experience temporary blurred vision in the affected eye. This visual disturbance is usually mild and intermittent, occurring primarily when the eye is irritated or when tearing is excessive.
Several factors contribute to blurred vision with a stye. The excessive tears can create a film over the eye surface that temporarily distorts vision. Additionally, if the stye is particularly large or located on the upper eyelid, it can press against the eyeball when you blink, causing momentary changes in the eye’s shape and affecting how light focuses on the retina.
The swelling and inflammation of the eyelid can also interfere with the normal distribution of the tear film across the eye surface, leading to dry spots or irregular wetting that causes vision to blur. Most often, the blurred vision clears with blinking or wiping away excess tears. The vision disturbance typically resolves completely once the stye heals. However, persistent or worsening vision problems should be evaluated by an eye care professional to rule out more serious conditions.
9. A Yellow or White Spot at the Center
As a stye matures, you may notice a yellow or white spot developing at the center of the red bump. This spot is actually pus that has accumulated beneath the skin, similar to what you’d see with a pimple on other parts of your body.
The appearance of this spot indicates that the stye is “coming to a head” and may soon drain on its own. The pus consists of dead bacteria, white blood cells, and cellular debris from the infection. The yellowish-white color comes from the concentration of these materials in the blocked gland.
Seeing this spot is actually a positive sign in the stye’s lifecycle, suggesting that the infection is localizing and the body is working to expel it. Within a day or two of the spot appearing, the stye often ruptures naturally, releasing the pus and bringing significant relief from pain and pressure. It’s crucial to allow this process to happen naturally and avoid squeezing or popping the stye, as this can spread the infection to other parts of the eyelid or even into the eye itself.
10. Discomfort When Blinking
Difficulty or discomfort when blinking is a particularly frustrating symptom of a stye because blinking is an automatic and frequent action—most people blink about 15-20 times per minute. When you have a stye, each blink can remind you of its presence.
The discomfort occurs because blinking requires the eyelid to move across the swollen, tender bump. For external styes, the bump may catch on the edge of the lower or upper eyelid during blinking. Internal styes create friction against the eyeball itself with each blink, causing irritation to both the stye and the eye surface.
You might notice that you’re blinking less frequently or incompletely to avoid the discomfort, which can lead to eye dryness and additional irritation. Some people describe a scratching or scraping sensation with each blink. The discomfort may also cause you to be more conscious of your blinking, making it feel less automatic and more effortful. This symptom gradually improves as the stye shrinks and the swelling reduces, eventually returning to normal comfortable blinking once the stye has fully healed.
What Causes a Stye?
Understanding what causes a stye can help you recognize risk factors and potentially prevent future occurrences. A stye develops when bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus, infect the oil glands or hair follicles along the eyelid margin.
Bacterial infection: The primary cause of styes is bacterial infection. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria normally live on the skin without causing problems, but when they enter and multiply within an oil gland or eyelash follicle, an infection develops.
Blocked oil glands: The eyelids contain numerous oil glands (meibomian glands) that produce oils to keep the eye lubricated. When these glands become blocked—often due to thickened oils, dead skin cells, or makeup debris—bacteria can become trapped inside, leading to infection and stye formation.
Poor eyelid hygiene: Not properly cleaning your eyelids, sleeping with makeup on, or using old or contaminated eye cosmetics increases the risk of developing styes. These practices allow bacteria and debris to accumulate along the eyelid margin.
Touching or rubbing eyes: Frequently touching your eyes with unwashed hands transfers bacteria from your fingers to your eyelids. Rubbing your eyes can also push bacteria into the oil glands and cause micro-trauma that makes infection more likely.
Blepharitis: This chronic condition causes inflammation of the eyelids and is characterized by crusty, irritated eyelid margins. People with blepharitis are more susceptible to developing styes because the inflamed environment and blocked glands create ideal conditions for bacterial infection.
Rosacea: Individuals with rosacea, a skin condition that causes facial redness and inflammation, have an increased risk of developing eye problems, including styes. The inflammation associated with rosacea can affect the eyelid glands.
Compromised immune system: Conditions or medications that weaken the immune system can make you more vulnerable to bacterial infections, including styes. Diabetes, in particular, is associated with increased susceptibility to styes.
Stress and lack of sleep: These factors can weaken your immune response and make your body less effective at fighting off bacterial infections, potentially increasing the frequency of styes.
Prevention Tips
While not all styes can be prevented, practicing good eye hygiene and taking certain precautions can significantly reduce your risk of developing this uncomfortable condition.
Maintain proper hand hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your eyes or face. This is especially important before inserting or removing contact lenses, applying eye makeup, or rubbing your eyes. Clean hands are your first line of defense against introducing bacteria to your eyelids.
Practice good eyelid hygiene: Regularly clean your eyelids, especially if you’re prone to styes or have blepharitis. Use a gentle, diluted baby shampoo solution or specialized eyelid cleansing pads to clean the base of your eyelashes and eyelid margins. This removes excess oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria that could lead to blocked glands.
Remove makeup before bed: Never sleep with eye makeup on. Use a gentle makeup remover to thoroughly clean all mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow before going to bed. Leaving makeup on overnight can clog the oil glands along your eyelids and trap bacteria.
Replace eye cosmetics regularly: Discard mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow every three to six months, as bacteria can grow in these products over time. Never share eye makeup with others, as this can transfer bacteria. If you develop a stye, throw away any eye makeup you were using, as it may be contaminated.
Handle contact lenses properly: If you wear contact lenses, follow proper hygiene practices including washing hands before handling lenses, cleaning lenses according to instructions, replacing them as scheduled, and never sleeping in lenses unless specifically designed for extended wear. Contaminated lenses or lens cases can introduce bacteria to your eyes.
Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes: Resist the urge to rub your eyes, even when they itch or feel tired. If you must touch your eyes, wash your hands first. Rubbing introduces bacteria and can cause small injuries to the delicate eyelid tissue that make infection more likely.
Manage underlying conditions: If you have blepharitis, rosacea, or other conditions that increase your risk of styes, work with your healthcare provider to keep these conditions well-managed. Proper management of underlying issues can reduce the frequency of styes.
Use warm compresses preventatively: If you’re prone to styes, applying warm compresses to your closed eyelids for a few minutes daily can help keep oil glands clear and prevent blockages. The warmth helps liquefy oils in the glands, allowing them to drain naturally.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Getting adequate sleep, managing stress, eating a balanced diet, and staying hydrated support overall immune function, helping your body resist infections including those that cause styes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a stye last?
Most styes improve within a few days and completely heal within one to two weeks. External styes typically resolve faster than internal ones. Applying warm compresses several times daily can help speed up the healing process.
Is a stye contagious?
While the bacteria that cause styes can be transferred from person to person, styes themselves are not highly contagious. However, it’s best to avoid sharing towels, pillowcases, or eye makeup with someone who has a stye, and to practice good hand hygiene to prevent spreading bacteria.
Can I wear contact lenses with a stye?
It’s best to avoid wearing contact lenses until the stye has completely healed. Contact lenses can irritate the stye, potentially worsen the infection, and may become contaminated with bacteria. Switch to glasses during the healing period.
Should I pop or squeeze a stye?
No, you should never pop or squeeze a stye. Doing so can spread the infection to other parts of your eyelid or into your eye, potentially causing serious complications. Allow the stye to drain naturally, which typically happens as it heals.
Can I wear eye makeup with a stye?
It’s advisable to avoid wearing eye makeup while you have a stye. Makeup can further irritate the infected area, introduce additional bacteria, and prolong healing. Once the stye heals, replace any eye makeup you were using when the stye developed.
When should I see a doctor for a stye?
Consult a healthcare professional if your stye doesn’t improve after a few days of home care, if it gets significantly larger or more painful, if the swelling spreads beyond the immediate area, if you develop vision problems, or if you experience recurring styes. Also seek medical attention if you develop a fever or if the entire eyelid becomes very swollen and red.
What’s the difference between a stye and a chalazion?
A stye is an acute bacterial infection that’s typically painful, red, and may have a visible pus-filled head. A chalazion is a blocked oil gland that’s usually painless, develops more slowly, and appears as a firm, round bump. Chalazia are generally not caused by infection, though a stye can sometimes develop into a chalazion if the blocked gland doesn’t drain properly.
Can children get styes?
Yes, children can develop styes. The causes and symptoms are similar to those in adults. Teaching children not to rub their eyes, ensuring they practice good hand hygiene, and gently cleaning their eyelids can help prevent styes in children.
Why do I keep getting styes?
Recurring styes may be related to chronic blepharitis, poor eyelid hygiene, repeatedly touching or rubbing your eyes, using contaminated eye makeup, underlying skin conditions like rosacea, or a compromised immune system. If you experience frequent styes, consult an eye care professional to identify underlying causes and develop a prevention strategy.
References:
- Mayo Clinic – Sty
- American Academy of Ophthalmology – Chalazia and Styes
- National Eye Institute – Blepharitis
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Hand Hygiene
- NHS – Stye
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions related to your health.
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