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A stye is a small, painful, red lump that forms near the edge of the eyelid, caused by a blocked oil gland or infected eyelash follicle. It's usually filled with pus and can feel tender, especially when blinking.
Evidence checked against current HSE guidance for Stye, covering the article's core clinical information and relevant assessment, management or safety considerations.
Public health education article
Self-care advice — See your GP or an optometrist if the stye doesn't improve after a week, or if swelling spreads beyond the eyelid.
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A stye is a small, painful, red lump that forms near the edge of the eyelid, caused by a blocked oil gland or infected eyelash follicle. It's usually filled with pus and can feel tender, especially when blinking.
Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
The stye doesn't improve after about a week of self-care
A stye is a small, painful, red lump that forms near the edge of the eyelid, caused by a blocked oil gland or infected eyelash follicle. It's usually filled with pus and can feel tender, especially when blinking.
Most styes resolve on their own within a week or so with simple self-care, though they can occasionally recur or, rarely, lead to a more widespread eyelid infection if not managed.
See your GP or an optometrist if the stye doesn't improve after a week, or if swelling spreads beyond the eyelid.
These measures can help ease symptoms, support recovery, and reduce the chance of things worsening — but they don't replace medical advice if symptoms are severe or persistent.
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BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
Most styes clear up within about a week with warm compresses and simple self-care, without needing any other treatment.
A warm compress applied consistently several times a day is the single most effective thing you can do to speed up healing.