What Is a Stye? Causes, Treatment & When to See an Eye Doctor in Carrollton, GA
You wake up, look in the mirror, and notice something new: a red, swollen, tender bump on your eyelid.
If you've ever wondered “What is this bump on my eyelid?”, there's a good chance you're dealing with a stye. Styes are common, and while they're usually not serious, they can be uncomfortable and sometimes require treatment from an eye doctor.
At West Georgia Eye Care in Carrollton, GA, we regularly see patients with styes, chalazia, eyelid inflammation, and other conditions affecting the eyelids and eyes. In this guide, we'll explain what a stye is, what causes a stye, how to treat a stye at home, how to prevent future styes, and when you should see an eye doctor in Carrollton, GA.
What Is a Stye?
A stye, medically called a hordeolum, is a red, swollen, often tender bump that develops along the eyelid.
A stye can develop when an oil gland or eyelid follicle becomes blocked and inflamed. The result can be a small bump that feels sore or painful, particularly when you touch the eyelid or blink.
Your eyelids contain numerous tiny glands that play an important role in keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable. Some of these glands produce oils that become part of your tear film—the protective layer that keeps the surface of your eyes properly lubricated.
When one of these glands becomes blocked, oil and debris can build up. This can contribute to inflammation and the development of a stye.
What Does a Stye Look and Feel Like?
A stye may cause:
A red bump along the eyelid
Eyelid swelling
Tenderness or soreness
Irritation around the eye
A feeling that something is in your eye
Increased tearing
Sensitivity around the affected eyelid
Some styes develop a small white or yellow spot where fluid or pus has collected.
If you're unsure whether an eyelid bump is a stye, chalazion, or another type of eye problem, an eye doctor in Carrollton, GA can examine your eyelid and determine the appropriate treatment.
What Causes a Stye?
Styes can develop when bacteria, oil, and debris contribute to a blocked or inflamed eyelid gland.
Several factors can increase your risk of developing a stye, including:
Touching or rubbing your eyes
Poor eyelid hygiene
Leaving eye makeup on overnight
Using old eye makeup
Blocked oil glands
Chronic eyelid inflammation
Certain types of dry eye disease
Previous or recurring styes
Eye makeup can also play a role in eyelid health. Mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow can accumulate around the eyelid margin and potentially contribute to blocked glands if they aren't removed properly.
That's why gentle eyelid hygiene is an important part of preventing recurring styes.
Heat Is One of the Best Home Treatments for a Stye
If you've developed a stye, one of the simplest things you can do at home is apply warm compresses.
Warmth can help soften thickened oils within blocked eyelid glands and encourage natural drainage.
How to Use a Warm Compress for a Stye
Warm your eye pillow or compress.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to warm your compress safely.Place it over your closed eyes.
Allow the warmth to remain on your eyelid for several minutes.Gently massage the eyelid.
With clean hands, gently massage toward the eyelid margin. Avoid pressing hard directly on the stye.Repeat regularly.
Consistent warm compresses can be more helpful than applying heat only once.
At West Georgia Eye Care, we particularly like the eye pillows made by Sarah Sews, which are locally crafted in the Carrollton area and available through our office.
The goal isn't to squeeze the stye or force it to drain. Instead, gentle warmth helps support the natural process of loosening blocked oils.
Should You Pop or Squeeze a Stye?
No. Don't pop or squeeze a stye.
Trying to force a stye to drain can irritate the surrounding tissue and potentially make the inflammation or infection worse.
Instead, use gentle warm compresses and avoid rubbing or touching the affected eye.
If your stye continues to grow, becomes increasingly painful, or isn't improving, it's time to have it evaluated by an eye doctor in Carrollton, GA.
When Should You See an Eye Doctor for a Stye?
Many mild styes improve with appropriate home care. However, some need professional evaluation and treatment.
Contact an eye doctor if:
The stye continues getting larger
Your eyelid becomes significantly swollen
The area becomes increasingly painful
Your vision becomes affected
The swelling spreads around your eye
The bump doesn't improve with home treatment
You frequently develop styes
You're not sure whether the bump is actually a stye
At West Georgia Eye Care, our team can evaluate your eyelid and determine whether you're dealing with a stye, chalazion, dry eye-related inflammation, or another condition.
How We Treat Styes at West Georgia Eye Care
When a stye doesn't respond to home treatment, your eye doctor may recommend additional treatment depending on what's causing the inflammation.
At West Georgia Eye Care, treatment may include in-office heat treatments, prescription eye drops or medications when appropriate, and other recommendations based on your individual condition.
In some cases, a persistent eyelid bump can develop into a chalazion. If a chalazion becomes large or doesn't resolve, your eye doctor may recommend referral to an oculoplastic specialist for additional treatment.
The right treatment depends on what's actually causing the bump, which is why an evaluation can be helpful when a stye isn't improving.
Stye vs. Chalazion: What's the Difference?
Styes and chalazia can look similar, but they aren't exactly the same.
A stye is generally a tender, inflamed bump associated with an eyelid gland or follicle.
A chalazion is typically a blocked oil gland that creates a firmer lump within the eyelid. A chalazion may become less painful over time even though the bump remains.
If you're unsure whether you have a stye or chalazion, your eye doctor can examine the area and recommend the appropriate treatment.
How Can You Prevent Styes?
The best stye is the one you never develop.
Good eyelid hygiene can help reduce the buildup of oil, makeup, and debris around the eyelid margin.
Remove Your Eye Makeup Every Night
This is particularly important if you regularly wear mascara, eyeliner, or eyeshadow.
Leaving makeup around your eyelids overnight can contribute to debris accumulating around the eyelid margin and oil glands.
Make removing your eye makeup part of your nightly routine—even when you're tired.
Keep Your Hands Away From Your Eyes
Try to avoid rubbing or touching your eyes throughout the day.
If you need to touch your eyes or handle contact lenses, wash your hands thoroughly first.
Keep Your Eyelids Clean
A gentle eyelid cleanser can help remove oil, debris, and makeup residue from the eyelid area.
Our Current Favorite Eyelid Cleanser: We Love Eyes Foam
At West Georgia Eye Care in Carrollton, we recommend paying attention to eyelid hygiene—particularly for patients who experience recurring styes, dry eye symptoms, or eyelid irritation.
We Love Eyes Foam is formulated specifically for the delicate eyelid area and can help remove oils, debris, and makeup residue.
It's available through our office and can be incorporated into a simple daily eyelid-cleaning routine.
If you regularly experience styes or eyelid irritation, ask our team whether an eyelid hygiene routine may be appropriate for you.
Can Dry Eye Be Connected to Styes?
Your eyelids and tear film work together to keep your eyes comfortable and healthy.
The oil produced by the meibomian glands is an important component of the tear film. When these glands become blocked or aren't functioning properly, it can contribute to problems with the tear film and dry eye symptoms.
Patients who experience dry eye, blocked oil glands, eyelid inflammation, or recurring styes may benefit from having their eyelid and tear film health evaluated.
At West Georgia Eye Care, we provide dry eye evaluation and treatment in Carrollton, GA and can help determine whether your symptoms may be connected.
Frequently Asked Questions About Styes
Are styes contagious?
A stye itself isn't generally considered contagious like a cold or flu. However, bacteria can potentially spread through direct contact. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes, wash your hands regularly, and don't share towels, washcloths, or eye makeup.
How long does a stye last?
Many styes begin improving within several days with appropriate home care, although some can last longer. A persistent bump may develop into a chalazion or require evaluation by an eye doctor.
Should I pop or squeeze a stye?
No. Don't squeeze, pop, or attempt to puncture a stye. This can increase irritation and potentially worsen the problem. Warm compresses are a safer approach.
What is the fastest way to get rid of a stye?
Consistent warm compresses are commonly recommended for mild styes. If your stye isn't improving, continues to grow, or is causing significant discomfort, an eye doctor can determine whether additional treatment is appropriate.
Can makeup cause styes?
Eye makeup can contribute to eyelid problems when makeup, oil, and debris accumulate around the eyelid margin. Removing eye makeup every night and maintaining good eyelid hygiene can help keep your eyelids healthy.
Can dry eye cause styes?
Dry eye and problems with the meibomian glands can occur together because these glands contribute oil to the tear film. If you experience both recurring styes and dry eye symptoms, an eye doctor can evaluate your eyelid and tear film health.
When should I see an eye doctor for a stye?
See an eye doctor if the stye is getting worse, isn't improving, affects your vision, causes significant swelling or pain, or keeps coming back. An eye doctor can determine whether you're dealing with a stye, chalazion, or another eyelid condition.
Still Dealing With a Stye in Carrollton, GA?
Most styes aren't serious, but you don't have to figure out what's happening on your own.
If you've tried warm compresses and your eyelid bump isn't improving—or if you're experiencing recurring styes—West Georgia Eye Care in Carrollton, GA can evaluate your eyes and eyelids and help determine the appropriate next step.
We're proud to provide comprehensive eye care in Carrollton, GA, including eye exams, dry eye evaluation and treatment, contact lens care, glasses and prescription eyewear, and care for a variety of eye and eyelid conditions.
If you're looking for an eye doctor in Carrollton, GA and need help with a stye or another eye concern, contact our team.
West Georgia Eye Care
619 Dixie Street
Carrollton, GA 30117
(770) 834-0212
Serving patients throughout Carrollton, Carroll County, Villa Rica, Bremen, Bowdon, Temple, and West Georgia.
Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Carter and Dr. Krista Stapleton, O.D., West Georgia Eye Care.
This article is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace an examination by an eye care professional. If you experience sudden vision changes, severe eye pain, significant swelling around the eye, or other concerning symptoms, seek prompt medical evaluation.