A stye is a painful red bump along or under the eyelid. Styes can cause tearing, eyelid pain, and eyelid swelling, but usually get better with simple home treatment.

• If the health care provider prescribed antibiotic drops or ointment, use as directed.
• Put warm compresses on the eyelid for about 15 minutes four times per day.
• Do not squeeze or pop the stye.
• Contact lens wearers should wear glasses until the stye is better.
• Your child should not wear eye makeup until after the stye heals.
• Don't share towels and washcloths.
• To help prevent future styes:
  • Wash hands frequently, especially before touching the eyes.
  • Wash hands well before handling contact lenses and keep the lenses clean.
  • Remove eye makeup completely at night. Throw away old eye makeup and do not share eye makeup with others.

Your child:

• has the stye for more than a week
• has blood draining from the stye or the stye gets very large
• has trouble seeing

• Your child has a fever and the swelling and redness spread to other areas of the face.

What causes a stye? A stye (also called a "sty" or "hordeolum") is caused by inflammation and infection of a small oil gland or an eyelash follicle under or along the edge of the upper or lower eyelid.

How is a stye treated? A stye usually gets better on its own. If it doesn't improve in 1–2 weeks, a health care provider might need to drain the pus or fluid from the stye.