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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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In this Article

• What is a sty?
• What is the cause of a sty?
• What are sty symptoms and signs?
• How is a sty diagnosed?
• Who is most susceptible to the development of a sty?
• What is the treatment for a sty? Is there a home remedy for a sty?
• What is the prognosis (outcome) of a sty?
• Are there any potential complications resulting from a sty?
• Can a sty be prevented?
• Sty (Stye, Hordeolum) At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Sty (Stye) - Treatments
• Patient Comments: Sty (Stye) - Describe Your Experience
• Patient Comments: Sty (Stye) - Symptoms
• Find a local Eye Doctor in your town
• Sty Index

While it is impossible to completely prevent the development of a sty, good hygienic practices, including proper hand washing, can help prevent all forms of infection, including a sty. Other measures that can help prevent styes include

• never sharing cosmetics or cosmetic eye tools (such as lash curlers or eyelash combs) with others,


• keeping eye tools clean,


• discarding old or contaminated eye makeup,


• keeping all cosmetics clean,


• not touching the eye and surrounding areas.

• A sty (sometimes spelled stye and medically referred to as a hordeolum) is a tender, painful red bump located at the base of an eyelash or under or inside the eyelid.
• Application of a warm compress or warm washcloth to the affected area for 10 minutes, four to six times a day, can speed rupture of the sty and aid in the relief of symptoms.
• Styes are common and are generally harmless.
• A chalazion (a form of scarring of the glands in the eyelid that may include the formation of cysts) is the most common complication that develops from a sty.

REFERENCE:

Bessette, Michael J. "Hordeolum and Stye in Emergency Medicine." eMedicine.com. 24 Feb. 2010 <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/798940-overview>.