From the Guidelines
The treatment for an eyelid stye (hordeolum) primarily involves warm compresses and good eyelid hygiene, as recommended by the most recent study 1 from 2024.
Treatment Options
- Apply a clean, warm compress to the affected eye for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times daily to help bring the stye to a head and promote drainage.
- Gently clean your eyelids daily with mild, tear-free baby shampoo diluted with warm water, using a clean washcloth or cotton swab.
- Avoid wearing eye makeup and contact lenses until the stye resolves.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (200-400mg every 6-8 hours) or acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 6 hours) can help manage discomfort.
Important Considerations
- Never squeeze or pop a stye yourself, as this can lead to further infection or complications.
- Most styes resolve within 7-10 days with these home treatments.
- If the stye persists beyond two weeks, worsens, affects your vision, or spreads to other areas, consult a healthcare provider.
- They may prescribe antibiotic ointments like erythromycin or bacitracin, or in severe cases, oral antibiotics such as dicloxacillin or cephalexin.
Underlying Cause
- Styes occur when oil glands in the eyelid become infected with bacteria, typically Staphylococcus, which explains why good hygiene is essential for both treatment and prevention, as noted in the study 1.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Eyelid Stye (Hordeolum)
- The treatment for an eyelid stye (hordeolum) is not well-established in the provided studies, as most of the studies focus on internal hordeolum or do not provide relevant information on treatment options 2, 3.
- However, one study suggests that warm compression is a commonly used treatment for hordeolum, with 91.62% of ophthalmologists in Thailand recommending its use 4.
- The same study also found that antibiotics, such as neomycin, polymyxin, and gramicidine eye drops, chloramphenicol eye ointment, and oral dicloxacillin, are often prescribed before and after incision and drainage (I&C) of the hordeolum 4.
- It is worth noting that the provided studies do not offer conclusive evidence on the effectiveness of these treatment options, and more research is needed to determine the best course of treatment for eyelid stye (hordeolum) 2, 3.
- Studies 5 and 6 are not relevant to the treatment of eyelid stye (hordeolum), as they discuss unrelated topics.