A hordeolum is a small, painful bump on the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection in one of the eyelid’s oil glands. You probably know it by its common name: a stye. Most hordeola resolve on their own within two to five days, though some can linger for a week or more.
External vs. Internal Hordeolum
Your eyelids contain two types of oil-producing glands, and which one gets infected determines the type of hordeolum you develop.
An external hordeolum, the more common type, forms when a gland at the base of an eyelash becomes blocked and infected. It appears as a small yellowish pustule right at the lash line, surrounded by redness and swelling. This is what most people picture when they think of a stye.
An internal hordeolum develops deeper in the eyelid, in the larger oil glands (called meibomian glands) that line the inner surface. Instead of pointing outward near the lashes, it produces a small yellow bump visible on the inner eyelid when you flip it. Internal hordeola tend to be more uncomfortable because of their location, and the swelling can sometimes be significant enough to partially close the eye.
What Causes a Stye
The process typically starts with a blockage. Oil gland secretions thicken and stagnate, clogging the gland’s opening. Once flow is disrupted, bacteria, most often Staphylococcus aureus (a common skin bacterium), colonize the trapped secretions and trigger an infection. The result is the red, swollen, tender bump you see or feel on the eyelid.
Several conditions make this more likely to happen. Blepharitis, a chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins, is one of the biggest risk factors. It creates an environment where gland openings are more prone to blockage. Meibomian gland dysfunction, where the oil glands produce thicker, stickier secretions, also increases susceptibility. Other contributing factors include seborrheic dermatitis (a flaky skin condition that can affect the scalp and face), rosacea, and infestation with Demodex mites, tiny parasites that live in eyelash follicles.
Everyday habits play a role too. Touching or rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands introduces bacteria directly to the eyelid. Poor contact lens hygiene, sleeping in contacts, and wearing old eye makeup all raise the risk.
What It Feels and Looks Like
A hordeolum usually announces itself with tenderness and swelling along the eyelid margin. In the first day or two, the entire eyelid may look puffy and red, making it hard to tell exactly what’s going on. After that initial period, the bump localizes to a specific spot on the lid edge.
Along with pain and redness, you may notice watery eyes, sensitivity to light, and a gritty feeling like something is stuck in your eye. External hordeola develop a visible whitish or yellowish head at the base of a lash, much like a small pimple. Internal hordeola are less visible from the outside but cause similar discomfort, with the yellow spot appearing on the inner eyelid surface.
How It Differs From a Chalazion
For the first two days, a hordeolum and a chalazion can look identical: both cause eyelid swelling, redness, and soreness. After that, they diverge. A hordeolum stays painful and stays at the eyelid margin. A chalazion migrates toward the center of the eyelid body and gradually becomes a firm, painless nodule. Chalazia are primarily inflammatory rather than infectious, which is why they feel different once they’ve fully formed. If your eyelid bump loses its tenderness after a few days but doesn’t go away, it has likely become a chalazion.
Home Treatment
Warm compresses are the cornerstone of stye treatment. Place a clean, warm, moist cloth over the affected eye for 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 6 times a day. The heat helps liquefy the blocked oil, encouraging the gland to drain on its own. Avoid using water that’s too hot or microwaving a wet cloth, as this can burn the delicate eyelid skin.
Resist the urge to squeeze or pop the bump. Forcing it open can spread the infection to surrounding tissue. Let it drain naturally. While the stye is active, skip eye makeup and contact lenses to avoid reintroducing bacteria or irritating the area further.
When Treatment Goes Further
Most styes clear up within two to five days with warm compresses alone. If yours isn’t improving with home care, a doctor may prescribe antibiotic ointment or drops to apply directly to the eyelid. In cases where the infection has spread beyond the bump into the surrounding eyelid tissue, oral antibiotics may be necessary.
For a hordeolum that persists and doesn’t drain on its own, a minor in-office procedure can help. A doctor numbs the area and makes a small incision to release the trapped contents. It’s quick and provides immediate relief, though it’s rarely needed.
Complications Worth Knowing About
Serious complications from a stye are uncommon, but they do happen. The most concerning is preseptal cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that spreads beyond the bump into the tissue surrounding the eye. Signs include worsening redness and swelling that extends across the entire eyelid or around the eye socket, fever, eye pain, vision changes, or the eye appearing to bulge forward. These symptoms require emergency care, as the infection can potentially spread deeper into the eye socket.
Preventing Styes From Coming Back
If you’re prone to recurrent styes, daily eyelid hygiene makes a real difference. Washing your face alone isn’t enough. You need to clean along the lash line specifically. A gentle approach: use diluted baby shampoo (formulated to be less irritating near the eyes) on a clean cloth or cotton pad and wipe along the base of your lashes where oil glands open.
A few other practical steps reduce your risk:
- Wash hands before touching your eyes, especially before inserting or removing contact lenses.
- Disinfect contacts daily and avoid sleeping in them. Bacteria thrive in the moist, dark environment between a lens and your eyelid.
- Replace eye makeup every six months to prevent bacterial overgrowth in products like mascara and eyeliner.
- Rinse your eyelids after swimming or heavy sweating, since chlorine, sweat, and excess oil can all clog the eyelid’s glands.
For people with underlying blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction, consistent lid hygiene and warm compresses as a daily habit, not just during flare-ups, can significantly cut down on how often styes recur.