Styes :(

[flight88]

I've developed sties in both eyes about 5 months ago. My the "head" of the left eye still is swollen and red from the stye, though it doesn't really hurt anymore. As for my right eye, when it was infected again 5 months ago, it looked as if it was hit by 3 styes in a row, with white heads all over the lower lid. When the infection resolved, it gave way to a pimple near my lower lashes that would produce pus from time to time. At 5 months, this pimple has ceased to do anything, except look red and swell a little (it makes the lower eyelid kind of puffy). The red region, when pressed, does feel like a bruise. Anyhow, I've done about half a year's worth of warm compressing for both eyes, but the bumps and pimples don't seem to want to leave.

I've been to a doctor who gave me doxycycline for 50 days, and erythromycin eye ointment for 2 months. I'm still using erythromycin, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything for my eyes. Is there anything else I should be doing to help these infections? And how long can styes really stay?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...Thanks :)

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

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[flight88]

Thank you for your suggestions :) I'll definitely try the fish oil supplements.

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

Use the search feature and archives and read about blepharitis the most common cause of recurrent styes. Get some Occusoft Foam Eyelid cleaner OR SteriLid Foam eyelid cleaner and use 3 to 5 times/week when you shower to clean you lids (just like you clean your scalp).

There is some evidence that long term omega 3 supplements may help. Use a high quality enteric coated fish oil like cardiotabs Omega 3 start with one per day for 2 weeks then add second pill with breakfast. Will take 3-4 months to have a beneficial effect on your oil secretions.

Keep you hair oil free and don't have bangs that touch your eyelashes.

JCH MD