How Contagious Are Styes?

Styes are a common eye condition caused by infection. While they can be irritating, they’re not usually serious—although in rare situations they can spread and cause more widespread issues. 

While styes aren’t contagious in the normal realm of “catching one from someone”, there is a very minor possibility that the infection could be caught by someone else in certain situations.

Everything You Need to Know about Styes

• What is a stye?
• How contagious are styes and how can they spread to others?
• How to treat a stye that won’t go away

What is a stye?

A stye is a small, red, often painful, lump on the very edge of the eyelid. It’s caused when an oil gland becomes blocked and gets infected. Pus forms and, until it releases, can be very sore. It’s a bit like having an acne pimple and is usually painful to touch. 

Styes usually go away by themselves within a couple of weeks. There are some things you can do to assist the healing process, such as:

• Use a warm compress: This will help keep the skin soft and speed up the body’s natural healing. Soak a clean flannel in warm water (not too hot), wring it out, and place it over the whole eye area for 10-15 minutes. Do this three to five times a day until the stye has disappeared.
• Keep the eyelid and surrounding area clean: Styes usually cause excessive eye weeping, discharge, crusting, and swelling. Gently cleanse the area using eye wipes or a mild baby shampoo solution. Use a single sweep, working away from the eye, and don’t rub the area.

There’s also some evidence that using a green tea bag as a compress can have a positive effect. There are natural antioxidants in green tea, something that’s believed might speed up healing. While there’s no definitive evidence of this, many people swear by it—and it certainly won’t do any harm.

You should also avoid touching the area, refrain from using eye makeup, and—the number one golden rule—do not squeeze or pop the stye.

How contagious are styes and how can they spread to others? 

Styes aren’t generally contagious and can’t be spread person-to-person in everyday situations. If you have a stye, there’s no need to keep away from others.

However, because the infection is bacterial, there is a slight chance that this could be passed on if, for example, discharge is on your pillowcase and someone else uses it. So, ensure you wash any affected bed linen and don’t share pillows. You should also practice great hand hygiene—especially after cleaning the eye.

How to treat a stye that won’t go away

While most styes are self-limiting and can be treated at home, a minority of cases need to be treated by an eye doctor. If a stye isn’t responding to self-care within 48 hours, or you have multiple styes, it’s probably time to get further advice.

An eye doctor will examine the eye and confirm a diagnosis. It's worth noting that there’s another condition—called a chalazion—that also causes a bump on the eyelid. However, these are less likely to be painful or cause as much swelling as a stye.

When a stye isn’t responding to warm compresses and cleaning, your eye doctor has treatment options. These include:

• Antibiotics: Either topical, eye drops, or oral, to fight the infection.
• A steroid injection: To reduce the swelling.
• Draining the stye: Done under local anesthesia, they’ll make a small incision to release the infection.

Your eye doctor might use one or a combination of these treatments.

Need Advice on Styes or Other Eye Care? Contact the WBEC Today

We treat every type of eye condition at the West Boca Eye Center. If you’re worried you might have a stye, have one that isn’t improving, or you get them regularly, allow us to assess and advise.

Visit https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/ for more information and call today to book a consultation.

Styes are a common eye condition caused by infection. While they can be irritating, they’re not usually serious—although in rare situations they can spread and cause more widespread issues.

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