How to Treat the STYE on my EYE!

Styes are stubborn and painful eyelid cysts that are not cosmetically appealing in any possible way. They can turn overnight from a small bump to a large, grotesque over-swelling of the eyelid. Not only does the growth cause your eyelid to droop and block your vision, but they are also very painful. And more-so painful to look at!

These ugly growths need immediate attention but not so much in needs of seeing a doctor. Surprisingly, the best treatment is simply: WARM COMPRESSES AND MASSAGING!

Make sure you start the hot compresses the minute you notice a stye forming on your eyelid. This is absolutely the best treatment method. There is no eye drop or ointment that is going to prevent this stye from healing.

Apply a warm compress as hot as you can stand. Use a washcloth, a boiled egg, a hot potato, a hot tea bag, or anything else hot that fits nicely onto your eyelid. Apply this as many times as you can in a day (at least 4-5 times a day for several minutes).

After applying the hot compress, use your fingers (index and thumb) to really massage and work at the stye. Basically, you are trying to pop the stye. This is healthy and the next best treatment compared to the hot compress. The combination of the two (hot compress and massage) are key!

Unfortunately, no eye drop or ointment is going to effectively treat a stye. Your doctor may prescribe a drop or ointment just to please you and to pacify your concerns. If you went to the doctor and they told you to apply hot compresses only and then you pay a $100 office visit, you would be very upset. Most doctors will write out a prescription just so you feel like you got your money's worth.

Oral antibiotics are sometimes necessary if the stye is a hordeolum in nature. The oral antibiotic will help speed the recovery of the hordeolum (whereas a topical eye drop or ointment will not). If the stye is stubborn or frequently returning back, an oral antibiotic may be warranted.

Are you truly fed up with your stye? Has it been visible for months on end and not resolving? Does it seem to get larger even with all your attempts at warm compresses and massaging? At this point, having an ophthalmologist excising the growth can be an option.

This is a painless procedure that is done in-office and will simply involve cutting out the stye. Topical anesthetics will be applied to prevent any sensation during the excision.