How long does a stye last?

How long does a stye take to heal?

A stye usually lasts about a week, from its formation to when it is completely healed. Stubborn cases may last up to two weeks. They develop over the course of a few days, with a pimple-like lesion forming around day three. A few days later, the lesion should drain on its own and quickly heal. 

Eyelids have many, many oil glands to help lubricate and protect the eyes. When one of these glands becomes clogged, bacteria can be trapped inside and lead to an infection. This is what causes a stye (also called a hordeolum). 

Hordeola most commonly form at the base of an eyelash, but they can form inside the eyelid as well. They are usually painful and develop into small, red, abscessed bumps before they resolve.

As tempting as it may be, you should never squeeze or pop a hordeolum. It will not make it go away any sooner. In fact, it will most likely make it worse. When you squeeze or pop a stye, bacteria is released into the eye and can lead to a more serious eye infection. 

How long do styes last?

They can last anywhere from three days to two weeks, but they typically heal in about seven days. This timeframe will vary slightly from person to person. The amount of time a stye takes to heal can depend on several factors, including hygiene habits, underlying conditions and the treatments used.

How long does a stye last without treatment?

The typical duration of a hordeolum — around seven days — is about the same with or without treatment. However, taking proper care of it at home and/or receiving medical treatment can help ensure it doesn’t last longer or get worse.

To heal a stye as fast as possible, it is critical to keep the eyelid clean and avoid touching it otherwise. Warm compresses can also help keep healing time to a minimum. Apply a warm compress for about 10 minutes, three or four times per day, to help the clogged gland clear itself out. 

You can use a damp towel soaked in warm water, or you can find reusable warm compresses at most drugstores. Reusable compresses tend to hold onto warmth a little longer.

How long does a stye last with antibiotics?

Most hordeola drain and heal naturally within a week or so without antibiotics. 

Topical antibiotics can help keep the infection from spreading, but they won’t speed up healing. Oral antibiotics can be more effective in healing them, but, because most cases heal so quickly on their own, the healing time is about the same either way. 

For this reason, most doctors reserve oral antibiotic treatment for internal hordeola or for serious cases. If the infection is severe, has spread to other areas or has developed into periorbital cellulitis, it will require antibiotic treatment. A doctor may also prescribe antibiotics for a stye that’s not going away (sometimes called a chronic stye) or for recurring cases.

Will a stye go away on its own?

With proper at-home care, they tend to self-resolve with no complications. Most people begin to see improvement within just a few days and are completely healed within a week or two.

If there is no improvement in the first week, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor. They can diagnose and treat any underlying condition that may be the cause. They may also recommend antibiotics, surgical draining or a steroid injection, depending on its cause and severity.

Healing stages

The exact formation and healing stages of styes are a little different for every patient. But they do tend to progress along similar timelines, which can be helpful to know when discussing your symptoms with your eye doctor. 

• For the first day or two, there may be eyelid tenderness and swelling without a visible bump. 

• A small, red bump — often with a pustule or abscess — will usually form in the lash line around days two to four. 

• The pustule then comes to a head and drains on its own, generally around days four to six.

• Healing should happen quite rapidly once the pustule opens and drains, and the lid is often totally healed by day seven or eight. 

If the eyelid bump never forms a pustule and is closer to the center of the eyelid, it is more likely a chalazion. Chalazia are similar to hordeola, but they can last for months and are not typically infected. 

Recurring styes

Hordeola are common in both children and adults, but some people do happen to be more prone to them. Often, having a history of styes is even considered a risk factor for having more in the future. 

If you have recurring hordeola, they may be due to an underlying health or skin condition. They may also be due to certain personal hygiene habits. Some people may be more prone simply because of the makeup of their body’s natural oils or the amount of naturally occurring bacteria on their skin.

Causes of recurring styes in adults

One of the most common causes of recurring styes in adults is a condition called blepharitis. This is an inflammation of the eyelid margins that causes redness, stinging and crusting or flaking along the lash line. 

Chronic or untreated blepharitis eventually leads to clogged oil glands, which, in turn, can lead to styes. Dry eye syndrome, dermatitis, rosacea, demodex mites and meibomian gland dysfunction are also associated with both recurring styes and blepharitis. 

High blood cholesterol is another condition that can lead to recurring hordeola. This is because it causes the body’s natural oils to become thicker. These thicker oils may clog eyelids’ oil glands more easily and more often. 

Conditions that weaken a person’s immune system can also be a cause of recurring styes. In fact, recurrent hordeola are often the first sign a person has diabetes. 

For many adults, personal hygiene may be a factor in recurring hordeola. Neglecting face washing before sleep will drive dirt and bacteria deeper into the skin overnight. And unwashed hands transfer all kinds of bacteria to the eyes — including bacteria from your own face and body. Both of these bad habits can lead to repeated infections. 

Finally, any infection can come back if an antibiotic treatment is not used correctly. This includes a hordeolum. If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic to treat your recurring styes, it’s critical to use it exactly as directed and to complete the entire course. 

How to prevent styes from recurring

The best prevention for repeated infections, no matter what is causing them, is keeping the eyelids clean and free from irritants.

• Wash your hands before and after touching your eyes — every time.

• Use a gentle, eye-safe cleanser to wash your face and eyelids before sleeping and again before applying any cosmetics. 

• Throw out any cosmetics that are over three months old, and avoid eye makeup if you have an active infection.

• Avoid sleeping in contact lenses, and clean them properly with fresh contact lens solution.

It’s also very important to make sure any underlying health conditions are treated and well managed. If you’re already keeping your eyes and hands clean with no improvement, see your eye doctor. They’ll be able to determine if something more than hygiene is the problem.

How to treat recurring styes

If you have recurring styes, whether they crop up in the same or different spots each time, make an appointment with your eye doctor. Depending on the cause, they may recommend a topical ointment or prescribe an oral antibiotic. 

An eye doctor can also diagnose and treat several of the conditions that may be behind the repeated infections. Blepharitis, demodex mites, meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye syndrome and contact lens wear are often related to hordeola. Your eye doctor can guide you through the best ways to manage these. 

It’s also possible that a condition like high cholesterol or diabetes is affecting your eyelids. While an eye doctor doesn’t treat those conditions, they can often detect them during a comprehensive eye exam. Then they’ll be able to refer you to an appropriate specialist for treatment.

Page published on Friday, November 20, 2020

Page updated on Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Medically reviewed on Monday, December 12, 2022