Styes and their aftermath

[flight88]

9 months ago, I had a bit of trouble with multiple styes forming on the lids of both my eyes - there were red, swollen, tender bumps (total four) on my lid margins for months (and even now, three of them are still there, but just smaller but still red). I've seen many doctors who tried a plethora of drugs: included are tobramycin eye ointment, moxifloxacin eye drops, and cephalexin. When I finally saw an opthamologist, he tried doxycycline (100mg BID x 7 wks) and erythomycin (TID for 3 months), which seemed to make the bumps shrink, but not go away completely. Anyhow, my real concern is that ever since I stopped the erythromycin eye ointment, my eye lids have been swollen and stingy...putting in artificial tears alleviates the problem for 2 hrs and it comes back. Is there something I should do about this stinging sensation, (because once the stinging comes, I can barely open my eyes for 2 minutes or so)? And because I still have *smaller* red bumps on my eyelids, is there anything that can be done to make them go away? I hate how I've looked infected for almost a year. And if simply waiting for the bumps to vanish is the answer, how long is the average wait for stye resolution?

Thanks so much for your attention...I'd be really grateful for some advice.

[flight88]

Hello Dr. Hagan,

Thanks for your reply :) I've already been using another commercial foam cleaner for half a year now, and it has been helping. Fish oils have also helped, so thank you for that piece of advice as my eye bumps have definitely gotten smaller because of them! I think the opthalmologist told me I had dry eye last time I saw him a month ago...it's just that the lubricant drops aren't doing much for the stinging and tearing. I think I'll try to see him again if the problem persists for another 2 months or so?

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

In this forum I can't add much since this is one of those things where you need to look at the eye. i would return to the ophthalmologist for a repeat exam. Also use the search feature and archives to read about blepharitis the most common cause of your problem. Consider using Occusoft foam eyelid cleaner when you shower and ask the Eye MD about using Azasite eye antibiotics
JCH MD