The condition is more common in children and is sometimes associated with a condition called blepharitis, in which inflammation (irritation) and dandruff- like flakes develop around the roots of the eyelashes.
The stye appears as a small, red and tender spot, with a yellow centre, at the bottom of an eyelash and can vary in size over time.
Many styes will recover with time and this can be helped by using warm compresses and cleaning the base of the eyelashes with a moistened cotton bud twice daily.
If possible, the doctor or nurse in A&E will use tweezers to gently remove the lash which will often encourage the stye to discharge. Antibiotic ointment to rub into the base of the lashes may sometimes be helpful.
Less commonly, a stye may cause a spreading infection along the surface of the lid which may need a course of antibiotics by mouth.
To prevent styes from recurring, it may help to treat any underlying blepharitis by cleaning your eyelids on a daily basis (lid hygiene).
If the eye becomes increasingly red or painful or your sight becomes more blurred, you should telephone Moorfields Eye Hospital Direct for advice or attend your local A&E department.
Welcome to this short video on lid hygiene techniques which are useful for people with eyelid and tear film disorders.
Both the upper and lower lids contain many oil glands called meibomian glands. Your doctor may advise lid hygiene if these lands become blocked, leading to dry eye and inflammation
The first stage of lid hygiene is to soften the oils in the glands using heat with a warm compress.
One way to do this is to heat a flannel under the hot tap, wring it dry and make sure it's not too hot to touch. With this warm flannel hold it over the eyes, which are closed, for at least three minutes.
Alternatively, you can warm a microwavable eye bag bought from your local pharmacy following the manufacturer's instructions. Use this eye bag in a similar fashion to the flannel and hold it over the closed eyes for a minimum of three minutes.
The next stage unblocks the warmed oil glands using eyelid compression.
One technique is to express the oils by compressing your eyelid using the rolling motion of your finger. This aims to move the softened oils out of the glands and onto the surface of the eye.
Another way to achieve this is to use your index finger and thumb to squeeze the glands in the eyelid, this will allow that softened oil to come out of those block glands. A useful tip is to look in the opposite direction to the eye lid that you are currently pressing.
The final stage wipes away any bacteria and excess oils from your lid margin.
The aim is to clean both the front and the back of the eyelid margin.
Moisten a cotton bud and using this rub along the front of the eyelid margin and then followed by the back of the eyelid margin.
An alternative is to use a pre-prepared lid wipe available from your local pharmacy. Clean the eyelid margin in a similar fashion to when using the cotton bud.
Your doctor may prescribe you some eyedrops, in addition to advising to do lid hygiene. Pull down your lower eyelid and look upwards when administering your eyedrops.
Author: Miss Claire Daniel, Miss Melanie Hingorani, Dr Swan Kang
Review date: June 2026