What is the treatment for a hordeolum (sty) in the right eye?

From the Guidelines

To treat a sty in your right eye, apply warm compresses to the affected area for several minutes, 3-4 times daily, as this is a recommended initial step in treating patients who have blepharitis, which can be associated with styes, as noted in the 2024 study on blepharitis preferred practice pattern 1. This approach helps bring the sty to a head and promotes drainage.

• Keep your eye clean by gently washing with mild soap and water, avoiding eye makeup until the sty resolves.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage discomfort.
• If the sty persists beyond a week, worsens, affects your vision, or spreads to other areas, consult a healthcare provider who may prescribe antibiotic ointments.
• Never attempt to pop or squeeze a sty as this can spread infection.
• Styes typically result from blocked oil glands in the eyelid becoming infected with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus.
• Most styes resolve within 7-10 days with proper home treatment, but recurrent styes may indicate underlying conditions requiring medical evaluation, and treatments such as topical perfluorohexyloctane, antibiotics, or antiparasitic medication may be considered as noted in the study 1. Key considerations include:
• The importance of warm compresses in treating styes, as they can help soften adherent scurf and scales or discharge and/or warm the meibomian secretions, as mentioned in the study 1.
• The need for gentle eyelid cleansing, which can be accomplished by brief, gentle massage of the eyelids, and the use of eye cleaners with hypochlorous acid at 0.01% which has a strong antimicrobial effect, as noted in the study 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Corneal Ulcers: The recommended dosage regimen for the treatment of corneal ulcersis two drops into the affected eye every 15 minutes for the first six hours and then two drops into the affected eye every 30 minutes for the remainder of the first day. On the second day, instill two drops in the affected eye hourly On the third through the fourteenth day, place two drops in the affected eye every four hours. Treatment may be continued after 14 days if corneal re-epithelialisation has not occurred Bacterial Conjunctivitis: The recommended dosage regimen for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitisis one or two drops instilled into the conjunctival sac(s) every two hours while awake for two days and one or two drops every four hours while awake for the next five days. The FDA drug label does not answer the question.

From the Research

Treatment Options for a Sty in the Right Eye

• There are no specific studies that directly address the treatment of a sty in the right eye, as the studies found focus on internal hordeolum or chalazion 2, 3.
• However, it can be inferred that a sty, also known as an external hordeolum, may be treated with conservative measures such as hot or warm compresses, lid scrubs, or other non-surgical interventions 2.
• The use of antibiotics for the treatment of hordeolum or chalazion has been evaluated, and it was found that the addition of an antibiotic to conservative measures was not associated with an increased likelihood of treatment success 3.
• The study suggests that antibiotics are frequently prescribed, but they are unlikely to improve the resolution of a chalazion or hordeolum 3.

Considerations for Treatment

• The treatment of a sty or hordeolum should be approached with caution, as the infection can spread to other ocular glands or tissues and recurrences are common 2.
• It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment, as they can recommend the best course of action for the specific condition 2, 3.