The Eye Center

Styes


	The eye is surrounded by small oil-producing glands that help lubricate the eye. Occasionally, a gland becomes plugged and hard, forming a chalazion (ch lae zee on) and, at other times the gland becomes infected, in which case the resulting abscess is called a stye (sti).

Symptoms

A stye can cause one or more of the following symptoms:

pain
redness
excess tearing
blurred vision
granular sensation in the eye
oozing pus, which can spread to other areas around the eyes

Treatment

Luckily, most styes stay small and are just a minor annoyance. They can be treated at home with warm compresses applied directly to the eye several times a day. They often resolve on their own within a few days. Styes that become more infected can be treated with antibiotics.

In the worst cases, styes can be surgically drained and/or removed in the doctor's office.

The Eye Center
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Last updated or reviewed: 11-01-05