Minor Eye Infections

Styes

A stye is a small, painful lump on the eyelid. They're common and should go away within a week. Styes are rarely a sign of anything serious but may be painful until they heal. ¹

The skin around the stye may be swollen and red and the stye may be filled with yellow pus. The redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin. ¹

Your eye may be red and watery, but your vision should not be affected. A stye usually only affects 1 eye, but it's possible to have more than 1 at a time and on both eyes. ¹

There are two types of stye: external styes (the common type) and internal styes (which are quite uncommon) ² .

External stye

This is the common type of stye. Technically it is an external stye; however, it is often just called a stye. It appears along the edge of the eyelid, due to infection in the eyelash follicle (where one of your eyelashes attaches to your eyelid).

It may start off as a small red lump but, as it develops into a collection of pus (a little abscess), it looks like a yellow pus-filled spot. The edge of the eyelid around it becomes reddened and swollen, and the lid is painful.

Internal stye

An internal stye arises when oil glands in the main part of the eyelid (meibomian gland) become clogged with oil and then infected. The infection comes to a head on the inner surface of the eyelid, against the eyeball, so that from the outside it is visible only as a swelling.

Internal styes may be painful, although often they cause a dull aching in the eyelid, sometimes with the sensation of a lump. Internal styes are much less common than external styes.

How you can treat a stye yourself ¹

To reduce swelling and help the stye heal:

1. Soak a clean flannel in warm water.
2. Hold it against your eye for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Repeat this 2 to 4 times a day.

To relieve the pain, take simple analgesia.

GoldenEye ^® Ointment for the treatment of minor eye and eyelid infections such as styes in adults and children, can be purchased from your Pharmacy after you have spoken with your pharmacist.

Always read the label. 

Ask your pharmacist for GoldenEye^®.

GoldenEye^® Antibiotic

For Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis which requires treatment with an antibiotic in adults and children over 2 years old, your pharmacist or GP may recommend treatment with GoldenEye^® Antibiotic Eye Ointment ⁶.

Ask your pharmacist for GoldenEye^® . Always read the label

Things you can do to treat and prevent styes. ¹

Styes are often caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland. You can help prevent a stye by keeping your eyes clean.1