6. What to Do for a Stye
A stye is an infection in a tiny gland of the eyelid. If the oil-producing glands on the upper or lower rim of the eyelid become infected, they become swollen and painful. A stye is small at first, but it can blossom into a bright red, painful sore.
Symptoms include:
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•Watery or tearing eye that burns and itches.
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•Red, painful bump or sore on an eyelid.
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•Swelling.
Eventually, a “baby” stye will come to a head and appear yellow if it contains pus. Generally, the tip will face outward and the stye will rupture and drain on its own. In the meantime, you can relieve the discomfort by following these steps.
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•Apply warm (not hot), wet compresses to the affected area three or four times a day for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.
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•Don’t poke or squeeze the stye no matter how tempted you may be to pop it. A more serious infection could occur.
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•If the stye drains on its own, gently wash the pus way with a clean, wet cloth.
Most sties respond well to home treatment and don’t require further treatment. If the stye doesn’t drain within a day or two, see your doctor who may need to remove the troublesome eyelash or prescribe antibiotic drops for the eye.
