From the Guidelines
A stye can be treated at home with warm compresses applied to the affected eyelid for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times daily, as this helps bring the stye to a head and promotes drainage, according to the most recent guidelines 1. The treatment of a hordeolum (stye) involves a combination of home remedies and medical interventions.
Home Remedies
- Warm compresses: Apply warm compresses to the affected eyelid for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times daily, to help bring the stye to a head and promote drainage.
- Eyelid cleansing: Gently clean the eyelid with diluted baby shampoo on a clean washcloth to remove debris and bacteria.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers: Use ibuprofen (200-400mg every 4-6 hours) or acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 4-6 hours) to reduce discomfort.
Medical Interventions
- Antibiotic eye drops or ointments: A doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointments such as erythromycin or bacitracin for bacterial infections.
- Minor procedure to drain the stye: In severe cases, a minor procedure to drain the stye might be necessary. It is essential to avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses until the stye heals and to practice good eye hygiene, including not touching your eyes with unwashed hands, to prevent recurrence 1. If the stye persists beyond a week, worsens, affects vision, or spreads to other areas, medical attention is needed. The treatment options for blepharitis, a related condition, include topical perfluorohexyloctane, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory agents, as well as in-office procedural treatments such as vectored thermal pulsation and microblepharoexfoliation 1. However, the primary focus for treating a stye is to promote drainage and reduce symptoms, and the most effective treatment is often a combination of warm compresses and gentle eyelid cleansing 1.
From the Research
Treatments for Hordeolum (Stye)
- There are several treatments for hordeolum (stye), including:
- Hot or warm compresses: Although no direct evidence was found for the treatment of hordeolum, studies such as 2 and 3 suggest that warm compresses can be effective in treating similar conditions like congenital dacryocele and chalazion.
- Lid scrubs and antibiotics: No evidence was found to support the use of these treatments for hordeolum, but they may be used in conjunction with other treatments.
- Steroids: Studies such as 4 and 3 suggest that steroid injections can be effective in treating chalazion, a related condition.
- It is essential to note that most of the studies found were related to the treatment of chalazia or external hordeola, rather than internal hordeola.
- The studies 5 and 6 did not find any evidence for or against the effectiveness of non-surgical interventions for the treatment of internal hordeolum, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
Comparison of Treatments
- A study 4 compared the effectiveness of triamcinolone acetonide injections, incision and curettage, and treatment with hot compresses for chalazia, finding that the injection and surgical treatments were more effective than conservative treatment.
- Another study 3 compared subcutaneous extralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection with conservative management for chalazion, finding that the injection treatment was more effective.
- However, these studies were focused on chalazia rather than hordeolum, and more research is needed to determine the most effective treatments for hordeolum.