A stye under your eyelid, called an internal hordeolum, is a bacterial infection in one of the oil-producing glands embedded deep in the eyelid tissue. Most resolve on their own within one to two weeks with consistent home care, primarily warm compresses. The infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in 90% to 95% of cases, and because the affected gland sits on the inner surface of the eyelid rather than along the lash line, these styes can feel more uncomfortable and take slightly longer to clear than the external kind.
Why Styes Form Under the Eyelid
Your eyelids contain dozens of tiny glands called meibomian glands, which produce an oily layer that keeps your tears from evaporating too quickly. When one of these glands gets blocked and bacteria multiply inside it, the result is a painful, red bump on the inner eyelid surface. You might not see it without flipping your eyelid, but you’ll feel it: a tender, swollen area that can make blinking uncomfortable and cause your eye to water.
People with chronic eyelid inflammation (blepharitis) or problems with their oil glands are more prone to internal styes. The bacteria involved are commonly found on skin and don’t indicate poor hygiene, though touching your eyes with unwashed hands or sleeping in old eye makeup can increase the risk.
Warm Compresses: The Most Effective Treatment
Heat is the single most important thing you can do. It melts the solidified oil blocking the gland, increases blood flow to fight infection, and encourages the stye to drain naturally. But the method matters more than most people realize.
The compress needs to reach at least 40°C (104°F) at the eyelid surface to be effective. A regular hot washcloth loses heat within about two minutes, which makes it largely impractical unless you’re constantly reheating it. Microwavable eye masks or self-heating compresses hold temperature far longer and produce better results. Apply one to your closed eye for at least 10 minutes, once daily. Studies tracking patient compliance found that people stick with the routine more consistently when it’s once a day rather than multiple times, and a single 10-minute session is enough to improve gland function.
After the compress, you can gently massage the eyelid toward the lash line with a clean finger. This helps push the trapped material out of the blocked gland. Don’t squeeze or try to pop the stye. Forcing it can push the infection deeper into the tissue.
Keeping the Eyelid Clean
Gentle eyelid scrubs help clear bacteria and debris from the area. Mix a few drops of baby shampoo into a cup of warm water, dip a cotton swab or clean washcloth into the solution, and with your eyes closed, wipe across each eyelid about 10 times, including along the lashes. Rinse thoroughly afterward. You can also do this in the shower by letting warm water run over your closed eyes for a minute, then using the diluted shampoo on a washcloth to gently scrub the lids.
Pre-made eyelid cleansing wipes are another option if you prefer something ready to use. The goal is to reduce the bacterial load on your eyelid without irritating the skin further.
What OTC Products Actually Do
Over-the-counter stye ointments like the ones you’ll find at a pharmacy typically contain mineral oil and white petrolatum. These are emollients, not antibiotics. They temporarily relieve burning and irritation and act as a lubricant to prevent further discomfort, but they don’t treat the underlying infection. They can make your eye feel more comfortable while you wait for the stye to resolve, but warm compresses remain the primary treatment.
You won’t find effective antibiotic eye drops for styes over the counter. If your stye needs antibiotics, a doctor will need to prescribe them.
When a Stye Needs Medical Treatment
Most internal styes drain and heal within one to two weeks. If yours hasn’t improved after consistent warm compress use over that period, or if it’s getting larger, it’s time to see an eye doctor. A stye that doesn’t resolve sometimes turns into a chalazion, a firm, painless nodule that forms when the blocked gland becomes chronically inflamed rather than actively infected. Chalazia that persist for more than one to two months may need to be drained surgically.
The drainage procedure is straightforward. It’s done in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia and takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The doctor numbs the eyelid, makes a small incision on the inner surface, and drains the collected material. Recovery is quick, and the incision is small enough that it typically doesn’t require stitches.
Signs of a More Serious Problem
Rarely, the infection can spread beyond the stye itself into the surrounding eyelid tissue. Watch for swelling that extends well beyond the bump, significant redness spreading across the eyelid or toward the cheek, pain when moving your eye, changes in your vision, or a bulging appearance to the eye. These symptoms suggest the infection may have moved into deeper tissues and needs prompt medical attention.
Stye vs. Chalazion: How to Tell the Difference
In the first day or two, a stye and a chalazion can look identical. After that, they diverge. A stye stays painful and tender, while a chalazion gradually becomes a firm, painless lump closer to the center of the eyelid. Internal styes specifically cause pain, redness, and swelling on the inner eyelid surface. If your bump has been there for weeks but no longer hurts, it has likely transitioned into a chalazion, which changes the treatment approach since antibiotics won’t help a chalazion.
Preventing Styes From Coming Back
If you’ve had one internal stye, you’re more likely to get another, especially if you have underlying eyelid inflammation. Daily eyelid hygiene is the best long-term defense: warm compresses and gentle lid scrubs should become part of your routine even after the current stye heals. This keeps the oil glands flowing freely and reduces bacterial buildup.
For people with chronic posterior blepharitis (inflammation focused on the oil glands), prescription-strength treatment may be needed. Oral antibiotics in the tetracycline family can reduce inflammation and bacterial colonization over several weeks, after which the dose can often be tapered to a lower maintenance level. Increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, whether through diet or supplements, may also help by supporting the anti-inflammatory processes that keep the oil glands healthy. This is part of the broader treatment recommendations for oil gland dysfunction and is most relevant for people dealing with repeated flare-ups rather than a single stye.
Other practical steps: replace eye makeup every few months, never share cosmetics, remove makeup fully before bed, and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes throughout the day. If you wear contact lenses, wash your hands thoroughly before handling them and follow your replacement schedule.