Causes Styes are caused by staphylococcal bacteria. This bacteria is often found in the nose, and it's easily transferred to the eye by rubbing first your nose, then your eye. Symptoms Signs of a stye are pain, redness, tenderness and swelling in the area, then a small swollen pimple-like area appears. Sometimes just the stye area is swollen, or the entire eyelid may swell. You may notice frequent watering in the affected eye, a feeling like something is in the eye or increased light sensitivity.
Most styes heal within a few days on their own or with hot compress treatment.
Hot compresses applied for 10 or 15 minutes three to four times a day over the course of several days relieve pain and bring the stye to a head, much like a pimple. The stye ruptures and drains, then heals. If you are frequently plagued by styes, your eyecare practitioner may prescribe an antibiotic ointment to prevent recurrences. Styes formed inside the eyelid either disappear completely or rarely rupture on their own, and they can be more serious. These styes may need to be opened and drained by your eyecare practitioner.