Stye on the Eye: Stages, Whether It Is Contagious, and How Long It Lasts

A stye is a small, painful formation on the eyelid. Below is a calm breakdown: what kind of inflammation this is, how it looks at the beginning and what stages it goes through, how the internal form differs, whether a stye is transmitted, and over what period it usually resolves.

What a stye on the eye is

A stye, which doctors also call a hordeolum, is an acute purulent inflammation of the hair follicle of an eyelash or of a sebaceous gland located at the root of the eyelashes. This form is called external. The cause is a bacterial infection: in 90–95 percent of cases it is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. More often the inflammation appears with weakened immunity, for example after a cold. Risk factors include body cooling, endocrine disorders, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, demodicosis, and blepharitis — long-term inflammation of the eyelid margin.

A stye is a common complaint, and it almost never indicates something serious. The eyelid becomes red and swollen, the eye may water, but vision is not affected. Usually one eye is involved, although several formations may occur at the same time, including on both eyes. Yellowish contents inside are a usual picture, and on darker skin the redness is harder to notice.

Initial stage: what the beginning of a stye looks like

At the beginning, a painful, circumscribed swelling appears on the eyelid margin, along with edema and redness of the conjunctiva of the eyelid. The spot is still small but sensitive even to light touch, and the skin around it looks swollen.

Similar things happen without a stye too. If there is no induration and the eye or eyelid is simply red and watery, it is more often conjunctivitis or blepharitis. A dense but almost painless formation is more likely a chalazion, a blockage of the meibomian gland duct.

Stages of stye development

Then the inflammation follows a clear scenario, and its stages are visible externally.

• First days: painful circumscribed swelling, edema, and redness.
• After 2–4 days, a yellowish head appears at the top of the swelling.
• Then the head opens, and pus with particles of dead tissue is released.
• Sometimes headache, increased body temperature, and enlargement of nearby lymph nodes are added to this.

Pus must not be squeezed out: such an attempt spreads the infection toward the orbit.

Internal stye: how it differs

An internal stye is an inflammation of a lobule of the meibomian gland, which lies in the thickness of the eyelid behind the eyelashes and secretes an oily fluid to moisten the eye. It develops less acutely than the external one and opens into the conjunctival sac. Sometimes after it a chalazion remains — chronic inflammation of the cartilage around the gland: a dense painless nodule, the skin over which is not fused with the formation, and it mainly causes concern as a cosmetic defect. Such a nodule often resolves on its own in about a month.

Whether a stye is contagious and whether it is transmitted

There is no definitive answer to the question of whether a stye is contagious: it is only known that the cause is a bacterial infection of the hair follicle of an eyelash or a gland of the eyelid. To avoid spreading the infection, do not share towels and tissues with a person who has a stye, and do not rub your eyes with unwashed hands.

How long a stye takes to resolve and when an ophthalmologist is needed

An ordinary stye resolves within a week. If after several weeks it has not improved, a doctor is needed. You should see a specialist urgently with very severe pain or swelling, with worsening vision, with discharge of pus, and with spread of the infection to the eye or eyelid. The doctor examines the eyelid — the examination confirms the diagnosis. Rarely, skin cancer of the eyelid looks similar, and then a biopsy may be needed. In a hospital, a stye may be opened with a thin sterile needle, the nearest eyelash removed, or referral made to an eye specialist. Complications are rare, but advanced inflammation is dangerous because of orbital phlegmon, cavernous sinus thrombosis, and meningitis — this is exactly why pus is not squeezed out.

A stye by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. Numbers 103 or 112 — only for a life-threatening condition; with severe pain, swelling, worsening vision, or pus, you need to see a doctor urgently.

This material is for reference: it explains how a stye behaves but does not replace a doctor's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer