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Sty (cont.)

Surgery

  • If you have a stye that has not responded to medical treatment or if you experience complications resulting from a stye, 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 stye 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 stye. During the biopsy, a small piece of tissue from the stye is removed and sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination to ensure that the stye is not a form of skin cancer.


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Hordeolum and Stye »

A hordeolum (ie, stye) is a localized infection or inflammation of the eyelid margin involving hair follicles of the eyelashes (ie, external hordeolum) or meibomian glands (ie, internal hordeolum).

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