Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

I just popped a stye on my eye

32 replies

Stitchybitch79 · 09/10/2021 06:06

I didn't really know what a stye was but I read on the NHS website that they eventually burst and go away on their own. I've had this little b*stard for three days. It was a red lump with a white lump on it under my upper lash line. It HURT and was so irritating.
The 'burst' bit was a rag to a bull, if they burst themselves they're popppable. So I've just performed the operation on myself.
1)Is a stye basically a spot on one's eye?? Why didn't I know this
2) obviously this is ill-advised. How likely am I to get a terrible infection/go blind/die?
The relief though!

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 09/10/2021 06:41

No, it'll be fine. It's not advisable as you may scratch your cornea at the same time as trying to burst it - but if you had done that, your eye would feel sore.

If you have any saline, just give your eye a bit of a rinse out and it will be fine.

(I'm an Optometrist)

midnight90 · 09/10/2021 06:45

This happened to me few weeks ago right in the corner of my eye. It hurts like hell doesn't it? My eyes were watering so much (even now when I think about it) and I couldn't sleep much. Eventually it went thank god after a few ideas my work friends gave me to try

SylvanasWindrunner · 09/10/2021 06:49

Ooh was it glorious, OP? Tell us more details, please!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Original poster
Stitchybitch79 · 09/10/2021 07:04

@underneaththeash

No, it'll be fine. It's not advisable as you may scratch your cornea at the same time as trying to burst it - but if you had done that, your eye would feel sore.

If you have any saline, just give your eye a bit of a rinse out and it will be fine.

(I'm an Optometrist)

Thank you so much for replying! I have used a warm compass with saline. My eyelid is red and sore from the faffing about with it but my eye itself is fine. What exactly is a stye please? Literally a spot but on your water line? It seems like one.

midnight what did people say? I've not had one in years and certainly not for this long. How can something so small be so painful?!

Sylvanas yes! I trapped it between two cotton buds, which seemed to me something gibe a little and then put warm, wet cotton wool onto my eye and felt the 'give', honestly the relief was immense. I wiped the gunk away with my finger but I felt it still had more, and it did! Even though this thing felt huge on my eye, realistically it wasn't! How did something so small have so much in it?!

OP posts:
Hen2018 · 09/10/2021 08:08

A warm compass???

Camblewick · 09/10/2021 08:13

Keep it nice and clean OP, I started getting styes a couple of years ago in my early fifties and get a couple a year now. I've no idea why! I did pop one last year and ended up with 3 side by side within a week but that was my only really horrible experience! Usually I have no post popping problems.

Nitgel · 09/10/2021 08:18

I had so many one after another a couple of yearsor so ago they were so painful. You couldn't burst it unless it was ready to go. They're awful. I even pulled a eyelash out near one of my styes to help it come to a head and the eyelash still hasn't grown back Sad

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 09/10/2021 08:32

I go through phases of getting them- started when I was pregnant withast DC for some reason. Optician decided that it was triggered by an allergy but I've never worked out what to. I always pop them now as soon as I can and think they heal much quicker.

I think they advise not to as if it's infected it can spread the infection but as long as you've bathed your eye after I'm sure it'll be fine.

They are so painful!

ImSoMagical · 09/10/2021 09:08

@camblewick I'm the same! Recently had 4 in the space of 2 months and sitting with one now. Never had styes and since turning 50 they're a regular occurance!?!

TheChosenTwo · 09/10/2021 09:18

Ouch!!! Glad you’ve had some relief at last, styes are annoying fuckers and can be so painful.
I’ve had an eye issue this week, more my eyelid, out of the blue it turned red and flaky and then my whole eye swelled shut! The swelling has gone down now and I can finally see again but my eye looks bruised and there’s small hard lump right In the middle of my eyelid, not on the lash line but actually floating slap bang in the middle of my eyelid! I want to try and burst it but even I, hardcore sporner, wouldn’t attempt it!

midnight90 · 09/10/2021 10:08

Someone said a cold tea bag (I didn't try this as mine had gone when it got suggested) someone else said a 9carrot gold wedding ring with a bit of saliva and just rub it on. My mum told me to rinse it with warm water and a cotton bud and keep doing that eventually it popped in its own and in the morning when I woke up my eye was all gooey so I washed it again with some warm water and it went

dementedpixie · 09/10/2021 10:11

@Hen2018

A warm compass???
A warm compress I imagine
Branleuse · 09/10/2021 10:18

if the stye develops a head, i always pop it. It usually goes away quite quick

BarefootHippieChick · 09/10/2021 10:18

Does anyone know what actually causes these? My dd seems to get them regularly and they can last for a few weeks. She puts warm compresses on them but I'm not sure what else we can do. OP I'm glad you got rid of it. They always look red and sore to me.

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 09/10/2021 10:22

@BarefootHippieChick

Does anyone know what actually causes these? My dd seems to get them regularly and they can last for a few weeks. She puts warm compresses on them but I'm not sure what else we can do. OP I'm glad you got rid of it. They always look red and sore to me.
Optician thought mine were an allergy and I used antihistamine eye drops for a while. You have to use them all the time as prevention though and I forget.

Mostly though they are just a minor infection or blocked hair follicle like normal spots.

BarefootHippieChick · 09/10/2021 10:28

Thanks mrsdeacon
Tried finding out if anything prevents them popping up but just seems like one of those annoying things some people are prone to.

Original poster
Stitchybitch79 · 09/10/2021 10:50

@Hen2018

A warm compass???
Oh god that typo! Sorry. I don't think a compass would have helped. I know what direction I was looking in... Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
Stitchybitch79 · 09/10/2021 10:54

I read that some are bacterial like leaving make up on can cause them etc but doesn't explain why they're so common in children.
I'm glad to hear other have popped theirs too.
My eyelid is still red and swollen but hopefully will subside soon
My grandmother used to say a wedding ring! Where does that come from? I'm going to put a teabag on it shortly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stitchybitch79 · 09/10/2021 10:54

@TheChosenTwo

Ouch!!! Glad you’ve had some relief at last, styes are annoying fuckers and can be so painful. I’ve had an eye issue this week, more my eyelid, out of the blue it turned red and flaky and then my whole eye swelled shut! The swelling has gone down now and I can finally see again but my eye looks bruised and there’s small hard lump right In the middle of my eyelid, not on the lash line but actually floating slap bang in the middle of my eyelid! I want to try and burst it but even I, hardcore sporner, wouldn’t attempt it!
That is a different type of stye I think.
OP posts:
FlatteredFool · 09/10/2021 11:14

Ffs OP, you should have taken photos or a video. The written details are no enough.

MrsFin · 09/10/2021 11:15

If you get another stye, rub it 7 times in the same direction with a gold ring, according to my long gone DGM. Smile
Seems to work, although they probably go of their own accord anyway.

TheUnbearable · 09/10/2021 11:18

You are hardcore, I cant stand to even put on eyeliner so could not entertain popping anything on my eye.

You have beaten my sister who used a stanley knife to cut out a small cyst on her leg a few years ago.

EduCated · 09/10/2021 11:23

I read that some are bacterial like leaving make up on can cause them etc but doesn't explain why they're so common in children.

Because children are grubby and rub things in their eyes Grin

OhWhyNot · 09/10/2021 11:52

I get them when I’m run down.

Golden eye ointment is brilliant stuff overnight they disappear

As a child I had them often I had to have an operation I think as
It was reoccurring in the same place.

limitedperiodonly · 09/10/2021 12:06

The pain is like childbirth - worth it when they pop. You can bring them to a head with a compress of cotton wool soaked in a warm saline solution. Hold it gently to your eye with a teaspoon which is exactly the right shape and size for your eye.

The reason why gold wedding rings sometimes work is their shape - not any mystical qualities. Wedding rings are usually plain and bevelled so are perfect for gently rolling under the stye to bring it to a head.

They are a bacterial infection of the eyelash root. Generally harmless. Children probably get them more because they rub their eyes more than adults and maybe are still developing their immune systems.

Stye facts brought to you under the letter S in my Sporn File.