What are your options (self care) for a stye?

jenniewb

OK, I have a stye or two (or so thinks both myself and the pharmacist I've seen. I've seen two). An eyelash is growing through one and my eyelid is slightly swollen, red and it hurts to blink, it even hurts to raise my eyebrows!
The recommendation is a hot compress for a week or three before anything more formal (a needle to draw out any puss:eek: ) but this thing hurts! I have a headache and am already taking pain killers already for something else!


I was trying to find details online and a few sites mention putting special eye treatment over the area to keep it disinfected- not just regular TCP but something designated for eyes.


Does anyone know of anything to use? I've seen various wipes and eye drops in Boots/Superdrug and whatever but none state they are for styes. I don't want to buy what is effectively saline in miniature bottles or wipes (eg a waste of cash).

jenniewb

And apologies in advance for the sheer volume of health product requests I've been posting on the board over the past few weeks- I'm not trying to spam, I just seem to be falling apart physically at the moment Hopefully I'm/my experiences and posts are of some use to someone who may be reading at a later date with similar issues!

donnac2558

Since these are causing so much pain, I would go to your doctor.

Oh and be very careful about putting TCP anywhere near your eyes.

kirtondm

If it is a stye then it tends to resolve just as quick doing nothing.
Only really effecitve thing is Eyebag but they are quite pricey £20 or so.

Otherwise hot compress I wouldn't bother with drops not going to help.

I am not sure I would bother with the GP unless you are unsure of the diagnosis.
up to 2 weeks to resolve.

KARO

Are you sure it's a stye and not a cyst?

I have had a cyst on my right eye for ages, but it's too small to warrant being removed.

Here is some information about styes
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stye/Pages/introduction.aspx

jenniewb

Thanks for the replies- I had already seen a pharmacist who'd decided it was a stye (I'd actually seen two). I didn't want to bother the Doctor because I know a Doctor wont do anything until it's been bothering me for a few weeks. I feel like I'm being really feeble- I'm normally a lot better with levels of pain. I've had styes before which tingled or felt 'heavy' on my eye lids but nothing like this, this thing is not easy to work around.

I wasn't thinking about putting TCP on my eye- sorry if my post wasn't clear- I was asking about products which I could put on my eye because TCP wasn't suitable.

Will see if I can ask another pharmacist, the previous said hot compresses was the best thing and I am trying with hot water on cotton pads but it's just not making any difference to the pain and/or itching. This thing is driving me mad!

j.e.j.

I would think the quacks would just send you away with a prescription for antibiotics, if it's infected..

lynsayjane

When I get anything that might be a stye I make a cuppa then put the tea bag (once cooled) on my eye for a bit. It's something my mum swears by and got from my gran, always works for me.

jenniewb

j.e.j. wrote: »

I would think the quacks would just send you away with a prescription for antibiotics, if it's infected..

Which I am trying to prevent happening...hence my original post....

theoretica

I have had a few small styes and the pharmacist gave me a choice between ointment or eyedrops. Over the counter medicines and the styes were soon gone - I can't of course say if they would have gone anyway.

gabriel1980

They usually go away on their own. I have one at the moment too. Red swollen eye lid. Usually the pain goes away within a few days though.