•  Red, painful bump or sore on an eyelid.

•  Watery or tearing eye that burns and itches.

•  The red bump may form a head and appears yellow if it contains pus. This usually drains on its own within days.

•  Wash your hands often.

•  Don’t touch your eyes with your fingers. Use a tissue instead.

•  Use clean washcloths and towels each time you wash your face.

•  Don’t share washcloths, towels, makeup, or eye drops with others.

•  Don’t expose your eyes to excessive dust or dirt.

•  Apply warm (not hot), wet compresses to the affected area 3 to 4 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Use a clean washcloth each time.

•  Don’t poke or squeeze the stye. A more serious infection could occur.

•  If the stye drains on its own, gently wash the pus away with a clean, wet cloth.