Styes are a common and uncomfortable eye condition, causing pain and swelling that can be quite bothersome. While typically not serious, anyone who develops a stye understandably wants it gone quickly. You might be wondering, just How Long Does A Stye Last? Fortunately, most styes resolve on their own within a week or two, and there are several things you can do at home to speed up the healing process.
What is a Stye?
A stye, medically known as a hordeolum, is essentially an inflamed bump that develops on your eyelid. It often resembles a pimple or boil and can be accompanied by a range of symptoms, including:
- Redness around the bump
- Swelling of the eyelid
- Pain or tenderness to the touch
- A gritty feeling in your eye, as if something is scratching it
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Watering or tearing of the affected eye
Styes are very common, affecting people of all ages, and are particularly prevalent among children.
Close-up of a person experiencing a painful stye on their upper eyelid
What Causes a Stye to Form?
Styes are bacterial infections that occur when an oil gland in the eyelid or at the base of an eyelash follicle becomes blocked. This blockage traps bacteria inside, leading to inflammation and the formation of a stye. The development can sometimes be rapid, appearing almost overnight, or it can progress more gradually over a few days.
There are two main types of styes, categorized by their location:
- External Styes: These develop at the base of an eyelash, originating from the hair follicle. They are typically more visible on the outer edge of the eyelid.
- Internal Styes: These form within the oil glands inside your eyelid. You might feel them more than see them initially.
Regardless of whether it’s an internal or external stye, the approach to treatment and how long it lasts is generally the same.
How Long Does a Stye Last on Average?
Typically, a stye will last for about 1 to 2 weeks. The good news is that styes are usually self-limiting, meaning they will go away on their own without medical intervention. The duration can vary slightly from person to person, but most styes follow a similar pattern of development, maturation, and resolution.
While a week or two is the average timeframe, several factors can influence exactly how long a stye lasts:
- Severity of Infection: A more severe infection might take a bit longer to resolve than a milder one.
- Individual Immune Response: Your body’s natural ability to fight off infection plays a role. A stronger immune system might clear the stye faster.
- Home Care: Consistent and proper home care, like warm compresses, can significantly speed up the healing process.
- Underlying Conditions: Conditions like blepharitis (eyelid inflammation) can make you more prone to styes and potentially affect their duration or recurrence.
How to Make a Stye Go Away Faster
While patience is key, you don’t have to simply wait for a stye to disappear on its own. There are effective home remedies you can use to encourage drainage and speed up healing:
- Warm Compresses: This is the cornerstone of stye treatment. Soak a clean washcloth in warm water (not too hot), wring out the excess, and gently apply it to your affected eyelid for 5-10 minutes at a time. Repeat this several times a day, ideally 3-4 times. The warmth helps to soften the blockage and encourage the stye to drain naturally.
- Gentle Massage: After applying a warm compress, gently massage the area around the stye. This can further help to encourage drainage.
- Maintain Hygiene: Keep the area clean. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes unnecessarily, and always ensure your hands are clean if you do need to touch your face or eyes.
- Avoid Makeup and Contact Lenses: While you have a stye, refrain from wearing eye makeup and contact lenses. Makeup can further irritate the stye or introduce more bacteria. Contact lenses can also trap bacteria and hinder healing.
Important Don’ts:
- Don’t Pop or Squeeze the Stye: Resist the urge to pop a stye like a pimple. Squeezing or attempting to drain it yourself can push the infection deeper, worsen the inflammation, and potentially spread the infection.
- Don’t Use Over-the-Counter Eye Drops or Ointments without Doctor Advice: While some over-the-counter products are available for eye irritation, they are generally not effective for treating styes and might even be counterproductive. Consult your doctor before using any medications for a stye.
When to Seek Medical Attention for a Stye
In most cases, styes resolve with home care within a couple of weeks. However, there are situations when it’s important to consult a doctor:
- Stye Worsens or Doesn’t Improve: If the stye gets larger, more painful, or shows no signs of improvement after a week of home treatment, see a doctor.
- Vision is Affected: If the stye is impacting your vision, causing blurry vision or other visual disturbances, seek medical advice promptly.
- Spreading Redness or Swelling: If redness or swelling extends beyond the eyelid to other parts of your face, like your cheek, this could indicate a more serious infection.
- Bleeding or Significant Drainage: While some drainage is expected as a stye heals, excessive bleeding or unusual discharge should be evaluated by a doctor.
- Recurrent Styes: If you experience styes frequently, it’s worth discussing with your doctor to identify any underlying causes or preventative measures.
A doctor can assess your stye, rule out other conditions, and, if necessary, prescribe antibiotic ointment or eye drops. In rare cases, if a stye is very large or persistent, they might need to drain it professionally with a small incision.
Preventing Styes
Preventing styes primarily revolves around good eye hygiene practices:
- Wash Hands Regularly: Frequent handwashing, especially before touching your face or eyes, is crucial in preventing the introduction of bacteria.
- Avoid Rubbing Eyes: Try to avoid rubbing your eyes, as this can transfer bacteria from your hands to your eyes.
- Remove Makeup Before Bed: Always thoroughly remove all eye makeup before going to sleep. Leaving makeup on overnight can clog oil glands and increase the risk of styes.
- Don’t Share Eye Makeup: Sharing makeup, especially mascara and eyeliner, can spread bacteria.
- Replace Makeup Regularly: Replace mascara every 2-3 months to minimize bacterial buildup.
- Proper Contact Lens Care: If you wear contact lenses, follow your eye doctor’s instructions for cleaning and disinfecting them. Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses.
- Manage Blepharitis: If you have blepharitis, work with your doctor to manage this condition effectively, as it can increase your susceptibility to styes.
By following these preventative measures and acting promptly with home care when a stye appears, you can minimize the duration and discomfort of this common eye condition. Remember, while styes can be annoying, they are usually temporary and treatable.
