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