Stye Advice

[oceantracks]

Last week I woke up with a swollen left eye that itched and felt like something was in it. In addition my eyesocket hurt, almost like someone punched me. Also have a large bag under this eye. After a couple days of warm compresses, I finally went to my general doctor, he looked in a said it was a stye. Prescribed an ointment which is combination cortisone and antibiotic. I started it yesterday. So this is day two, and things aren't really better. It's purplish on my eyelid and still feels like I have an eyelash or something in it, and the socket still hurts.

Is this normal for a stye or should I have had relief by now?

Thanks
Tom

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Sometimes it takes many weeks for a stye or chalazion to improve and sometimes surgical drainage or cortisone injections may be needed for any improvement. I strongly suggest you see an ophthalmologist to make sure it is actually what you think it is and to offer some help with the treatment.  In the meantime, warm, moist compresses should be continued.  As you know it is possible that it could be something different and more serious than just a stye so see an ophthalmologist.

MJK MD

[oceantracks]

Thanks so much. I did see an opthamologist and he said it was indeed a stye, and told me to keep using hot compresses and give it at least a week. It does seem to be a LITTLE better. It turns out I wasn't using the hot compresses enough, he said to use them for 15 minutes 4 times a day!

Tom H