This page explains the treatment in early stages, the minor surgery
available, prevention & what to do if the condition recurs.
A stye is an infection in the edge of your eyelid. The infection is in
a gland at the base of an eyelash, and is usually caused by staphylococcal
bacteria. The treatment you need depends on how severe the infection is.
| very mild infections |
(a little redness and swelling) can be treated with hot bathing
and cleaning of the eyelid. To carry out ‘hot bathing’,
bathe the stye with a compress, such as a flannel or tissue, soaked
in hot water. The water should not be hot enough to burn, and the
bathing is usually need 4 times a day for about 10 minutes, until
the stye starts to go, usually 2 days. (Alternatively use hot spoon
bathing: hold a spoon with a flannel wrapped round soaked in hot
water beneath your eye so the steam rises.)
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| average |
Styes that are more painful with more swelling also need antibiotics,
such as chloramphenicol cream x4 a day, or fucithalmic x2 from your
general practitioner. Take care not to spread the infection to the
other eye.
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| severe |
Severe styes cause swelling of the entire eyelid may need antibiotic
tablets: your general practitioner will need to advise. |
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Meibomian cysts (or ‘chalazions’) have different
stages. If your eyelid has a small lump in, and is red, painful,
and swollen, treat like a stye as above.
Meibomian cyst is the name given to a lump in the eyelid; this
lump may consist of debris remaining after an infection blocking
the gland. Once the main infection has subsided, they do not grow
bigger, and are then not very red or painful. Often, the lump disappears
naturally in about 8-16 weeks.
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a chalazion that
has been present some time (best having minor surgery)
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acute chalazion
needing hot bathing and antibiotic cream (possibly tablets
as well)
a recent acute chalzion:
this is likely to settle without surgery |
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If the lump does not disappear naturally, it can
be removed by a small operation in the eye clinic. The doctor injects
a little local anaesthetic into the eyelid to make it feel numb.
The cyst is then scrapped out. Sometimes the shell of the cyst
is very thick, and the doctor may be able to scrape out the contents,
but the shell cannot be removed. If this happens, a small lump
may remain in the eyelid. Very occasionally a second operation
may help.
The operation may cause bruising of the eyelid. If it does,
the bruising may take about a week to go. Usually a tiny cut
is made on the inside of the eyelid, so there is no scar. If
the lump is just under the skin, the doctor may make a tiny cut
in the skin. |
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If you develop chalazions quite frequently, preventative
treatment may be helpful. Chalazions may be caused by blockage
and infection of the glands in the eyelids.
Some people who develop frequent chalazions have dry skin,
with secretions blocking the glands.
Treatment that unblocks the glands in the eyelid may help stop
more chalazions developing. To prevent the glands blocking, (see blepharitis page)
- clean the eyelids each day. Soak some cotton wool in warm
water. Rub the cotton wool over the closed eyelids for 2-3
minutes, and repeat.
- Then clean the edge of the lower eyelid with a cotton bud
to remove scales and debris on the edge of the eyelid. Gently
rub the cotton bud along the eyelid, using a mirror, and pulling
the lid away from the eyeball with the fingers of the other
hand.
- It is safer to boil the water first to sterilise it, and
allow it to cool.
- When the lid is clean after a couple of weeks, It is safe
to stop cleaning, but you may need to start again if chalazions
start to develop again.
- Adding bicarbonate to the water can help. Use a teaspoon
of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in a pint of boiled water:
this solution can be used over a week if refrigerated.
- If the cleaning is not helpful preventing the chalazions,
antibiotic ointment may help. Your GP will need to prescribe
it; try it for 3 months (chloromycetin or fucithalmic).
- Sometimes chalazions return once the ointment is stopped,
and you may need a repeat prescription from your GP. Some people
benefit using the cream intermittently.
- Finally, if all else fails and you still develop more chalazions,
a course of antibiotic tablets may help, such as oxytetracycline
250mg twice daily for three months (from your GP). This treatment
is sometimes useful if the other treatments do not work. It
is particularly effective if you have a skin condition, such
as acne rosacea, or very dry skin, or if the edge of your eyelid
stays red with many scales.
Antibiotic tablets are NOT suitable for everyone, particularly
if you use several other tablets or have stomach problems. You
will need to discuss this treatment with your GP first. Oxytetracycline
250mg twice daily (or doxcycline 50mg once daily [or erythromycin])
is usually used for 3 months.
The benefit of antibiotics lasts several months after stopping
treatment, but if the condition returns you may need to use further
courses.
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These are tiny cysts with fluid inside. They do not grow. After a local
anaesthetic injection, a small nick is made in the cyst. The skin of the
cyst is also removed. Usually they do not recur.
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Papillomas can grow to different sizes. They are probably caused by a virus,
and are essentially warts on the skin.
They are removed in a ‘minor operations’ clinic in the eye
department. Your skin is anaesthetised with a small injection. The papilloma
is then cauterised. Usually a little scab forms, and heals in a week, leaving
a nearly invisible scar. If the papilloma is near the edge of the eyelid,
the scar may make the edge a little crooked. They may recur after the operation,
which may need to be repeated.
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