Treatment for stye (chalazion & hordeolum)
As most styes go away on their own within a few days, keep the area surrounding your eye clean and use a warm towel as a compress to reduce discomfort. Wear no cosmetics and refrain from wearing contact lenses until the stye goes away.
Avoid rubbing or touching the area during this period. Furthermore, do not try to pop the stye because doing so can transfer the bacteria to other parts of your face and cause further inflammation.
If the swelling remains after 2 days, please contact us to schedule an appointment with our eye specialist.
The following medical treatments may be suggested depending on the severity of your condition:
- Apply antibiotic eyedrops
- Apply antibiotic cream
- Inject steroids into the stye to reduce swelling
- Make a small incision to drain and remove the stye (under local anaesthesia)
- Take oral antibiotics if the infection has spread to the eye or after the incision to drain the stye is made
If you are given antibiotics, the stye should go away within a week. If you have surgery to remove the stye, you will be out of commission for 7 to 10 days. Take the prescribed medication and avoid swimming and other physical activities during this period.