From the Research
For treating a stye (hordeolum), antibiotic eye drops such as erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (0.5%) or azithromycin 1.5% eye drops may be recommended in some cases, with azithromycin being a more recent and potentially effective option 1. When considering treatment for a stye, it's essential to prioritize the most recent and highest quality evidence.
- The primary treatment for a stye is warm compresses, but antibiotic eye drops may be prescribed to eliminate the bacterial infection, typically Staphylococcus aureus.
- Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (0.5%) is commonly prescribed, applied to the affected eye 2-3 times daily for 7-10 days.
- Other options include bacitracin or polymyxin B/trimethoprim drops, as well as azithromycin 1.5% eye drops, which have shown efficacy in treating purulent bacterial conjunctivitis 1.
- When applying eye drops or ointment, it's crucial to wash your hands thoroughly, pull down your lower eyelid to create a small pocket, place the medication in this pocket, close your eyes gently for 1-2 minutes, and avoid touching the tip of the container to prevent contamination.
- Most styes resolve within a week with treatment, but if the stye doesn't improve after 48 hours of antibiotic treatment, worsens, affects your vision, or recurs frequently, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider as surgical drainage may be necessary.
- Additionally, some studies suggest that bloodletting at EX-HN6 as an adjunctive therapy to eye drops may be beneficial in treating styes, but more high-quality research is needed to confirm this finding 2.