Stye
Overview
A stye is a small, painful lump on the eyelid. They're common and should go away within a week. Styes are rarely a sign of anything serious, but may be painful until they heal.
Symptoms
A stye usually only affects 1 eye, but it's possible to have more than 1 at a time and on both eyes. It's probably not a stye if: there's no lump – if your eye or eyelid is swollen, red and watery it's more likely to beconjunctivitisorblepharitisthe lump is hard but not very painful – this is more likely to be achalazion
Treatment
If you have a stye, the GP may: burst the stye with a thin, sterilised needleremove the eyelash closest to the styerefer you to an eye specialist in hospital
Prevention
You can help avoid stye by keeping your eyes clean. Styes are often caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland. You're also more likely to get a stye if you have long-termblepharitisorrosacea. wash your face and remove eye make-up before bed wash your face and remove eye make-up before bed keep your eyelids and eyelashes clean, especially if you have blepharitis keep your eyelids and eyelashes clean, especially if you have blepharitis wash your hands before putting contact lenses in or taking them out wash your hands before putting contact lenses in or taking them out do not share towels or flannels with someone who has a stye do not share towels or flannels with someone who has a stye do not rub your eyes if you have not recently washed your hands do not rub your eyes if you have not recently washed your hands