I have been getting sties lately.
Sties are bacterial infections of tear ducts.
The technical name is hordeolum, and they are usually caused by staph . They can be quite painful and disfiguring, causing the area around the eye to redden and swell. Usually they go away on their own, with patience. Sties on the outside of your eyelid eventually will rupture, discharge pus, then disappear. Inside your eyelid, the infection can be more severe.