Choice of Antibiotics For Stye

Dear Doctor,

What might be a good choice of a topical antibiotic
ointment for a stye ?  I have an external one on my
lower right eyelid now.

I have Maxitrol (neomycin + polymyxin + dexamethasone)
and Terramycin (oxytetracycline + neomycin) ointments.

I have have a bottle of Maxitrol eye drops. Are drops
suitable for external styes ?

If topical treatment doesn't work, how about a
course of oral antibiotics like Bactrim  ?

Thank you.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Warm compresses, lid cleaning with Occusoft lid cleaner or TheraTears SteriLid eyelid cleaner. Of what  you have on hand I would use the non steroid containing terramycin. Oral antibiotics are not useful.

Use the search feature to read previous posts.

JCH MD

[Tham58]

Dear Dr Hagan,

The pus in the stye has gone off, but the stye still remains,
thought it is smaller.

It's quite small though, maybe about 2 to 3 mm diameter.

I'm wondering if it might have turned into a chalazion by
this stage, after 3 weeks.

It's external, and more toward the center of the lower right eyelid.

Thank you.

Tham

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes the hard small residual bump is likely a chalazion or graulation tissue in any case warm compresses and a maybe 3-6 more weeks should make it shrink to where no one else sees it

JCH MD

[aldz]

Can I use terramycin for infants stye?

Thanks  

[aldz]

Hi Doc,

It's okay to use Tobrex (tobramycin Ophalmic Oinment) or Garamycin for STYE? My 2 year old has many stye, before I use this oinment I want to make sure that is safe for infant.

Thank you.  

[des900]

Tetracycline antibiotic ointment is very effective in treating eyelid infections & gives quick results.

[Tham58]

Dear Dr Hagan,

Following your advice with warm compresses, the residual
bump, or perhaps chalazion, did shrink to almost to where
no one else sees it, maybe about 1 mm diameter, and hardly
a bump too.

However, it seems to have recurred again today at exactly
the same spot. I'm not sure if it is a new stye, or chalazion.

This may be due to me doing quite a bit of sweeping in my
room two days ago, with lots of dust blown up. The last time
I had that stye on June 15, it occurred right after I did the
same thing, i.e. sweeping and dusting.

Been having quite a lot of stress too these days with family
problems and lack of sleep.

Back to warm compresses, and antibiotic creams or drops again ?
I have two new bottles of Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin) and
Vigamox (moxifloxacin) eye drops.

I've taken a photo.

[tina0225]

I've been going threw hell with my stye I got it one year ago , It was hudge for a few months . I went to the doctors first he told me to do the warm compress that didn't work , Then he prescribed me Torbex , that didn't work either . I went to see a eye specialist , he told me it's a stye but he couldn't do anything to help without a referal from a doctor . he seemed stupid so I didn't bother going back there .  I was prescribed some pills to take the infection away , but that didn't help either .Now the stye has become something hard that I can feel when I touch my lower eye lid . It's on my right lower eye lid . I went back to the doctors and he said go to the nearest hospital and get it lanced . I went to the hospital and they said that they don't do that ! I've been trying to find a good doctor that can help me and it's seeming near to impossible . I live in Scarborough GTA Ontario . I've also tried the gold ring tale and poke a hair in the eye . but nothing helps some days it's bigger and more notciable than others. I hate this . I'm so scared it's becoming something serious . If anyone can help me I would be more than great full for any tips or advice

My email address is
tina_star***@****

HELP PLEASE

[des900]

Try applying fresh honey on that region, and regularly do lid cleaning with diluted amounts of baby shampoo.

If the itching or stye size is not so much ignore it.

[Tham58]

I think your stye has turned into a chalazion.
Maybe minor surgery may be needed to remove it.
I'm surprised your doctors coudn't help you and you
were turned away by the hospital ?  I'm sure they have
at least one opthalmologist there ?   If they can't do it
for you, who can ?

It's best you see a proper opthalmologist.  In Malaysia,
one can just walk into any private opthamologist without
any referral, and the eye specialist will treat you on the spot.
It's just a question of money.

I did a seach for you on Locateadoc.com, and
came out with this :

Bochner Eye Institute
2941 Lawrence Ave E
Scarborough , Ontario M1P 2V6

[katsertac]

Dear Doctor Hagan

I was just wondering if i can use Terramycin for my 3 year old daughter.. she have this for almost a month already and it is still there.. we already had her eye checked and gave us meds for it but still didnt work.. will it be ok to try terramycin??? thank you :)

[katsertac]

Dear Doctor Hagan,

       Im sorry I didnt told you what it was... it is a stye by the way... i am kinda worried about it.. i dont want her to go through an eye operation...
Again Thank you ..