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Sty (cont.)

Stye Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Most styes go away on their own in five to seven days.

  • Apply warm compresses four to six times a day for about 15 minutes at a time to help the drainage. Keep your eyes closed.


  • Gently scrub the eyelid with tap water or with a mild, nonirritating soap or shampoo (such as baby shampoo). This may help with drainage. Close your eyes as you scrub so you do not injure your eyes.


  • Do not squeeze or puncture the stye. A more serious infection may occur as a result.


  • Discontinue the use of eye makeup as well as eye lotions and creams because they may be infected.


  • Discontinue wearing your contact lenses because the stye may cause an infection to spread to your cornea with the continued use of your contact lenses.


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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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