Eye Diseases and Conditions Slideshow Pictures Pink Eye Slideshow Pictures Cataracts Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Grant G. Gilliland, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

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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Surgery

• If you have a sty that has not responded to medical treatment or if you experience complications resulting from a sty, a surgical procedure may be required.



• During this surgical procedure, your ophthalmologist makes a small incision in the eyelid. The incision is made either on the inner surface of the eyelid or on the outer surface of the eyelid if the sty is pointing externally (outward). Once the incision is made, the ophthalmologist then drains the pus (or blocked oil) out of the gland.



• This procedure is commonly performed in the office. In children, general anesthesia may be required.



• A one-week follow-up appointment is usually recommended after this surgical procedure.



• The ophthalmologist may need to perform a biopsy on the sty. During the biopsy, a small piece of tissue from the sty is removed and sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination by a pathologist (a physician with special training in tissue diagnosis) to ensure that the sty is not a form of skin cancer.