What is a sty?
A sty is a small lump in the eyelid caused by obstruction of an oil producing gland near the root of an eyelash. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and pain in a localized area of the eye. Treatment consists of repeated use of warm, wet compresses applied to the eye for 15-20 minutes, 4 times a day, for 3-4 days. Do not attempt to squeeze or drain the sty yourself. If the sty does not diminish or recurs, medical attention is necessary. Your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications.
A sty (sometimes spelled stye) is a tender, painful red bump located at the base of an eyelash or under or inside the eyelid. The medical term for a sty is hordeolum (plural, hordeola). A sty results from an acute infection of the oil glands of the eyelid (meibomian glands) that occurs after these glands have become clogged. A sty also may arise from an infected hair follicle at the base of an eyelash. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for 90%-95% of cases of styes. Staph aureus is frequently found on the skin. A sty can develop as a complication of blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid). The term external hordeolum has been used to refer to a sty that develops at the base of an eyelash involving a hair follicle of the eyelid, whereas the term internal hordeolum refers to a sty arising due to an inflamed meibomian gland under the eyelid. A sty is sometimes confused with a chalazion (see below), which is a cyst or a specific type of scarring (due to chronic inflammati
