Stubborn Stye won’t go away

[MrsBean21]

I’ve had a stye for about 6 weeks now, I’ve been putting a warm compress everyday 2-3 times and used eye drops. But it’s still there!
My eyelid was quite swollen but now it’s a small bump.
I wear contacts but obviously now I’m wearing my glasses.

I spoke with my optician and they have suggested the above and to carry on doing this.

Has anyone had a stubborn stye which wouldn’t disappear?
how long did it take?

Thanks for reading!

Do you wear make up?

If you do, clean your mascara brush off either with a make up wipe or water. Same goes for foundation brushes/sponges.

@PinkButtercups Thanks for your reply. I don’t wear any make up nowadays.

Maybe I need to keep going with the warm compress each day.

I stuck a pin in mine and popped it. It was the only thing that worked.

Yes. I had one for months last year. It would almost go and then pop back up or even move slightly.

It was bloody miserable. I don't wear make up either so nothing near my eye that shouldn't be.

I was using hot (as I could bare) compresses and ibuprofen. I was waiting for my referral to see the specialist and it just disappeared. Fingers crossed never to return.

I feel for you. They're utterly shite

It would be worth buying a hot compress eye bag that goes in the microwave if you've not already. Also massage the area twice a day.

Rub a gold ring on it!

Oh okay.

When you say warm water are you using sterile water? It needs to be kettle water (once it's cooled!) and I find a cotton wool pad is the best. You can add a little salt to the water too.

I also got sick of the steak/ring/insert random object here pieces of advice I received. Sorry @Geppili

Rubbing it helps but it doesn't matter what with as long as it's clean. And not a steak. I'd eat that.

I used to put a tea bag on them

Have you been to the pharmacist and tried the ointment, can't remember what is called now?

Golden eye ointment

If it’s gone hard it usually won’t go easily.
you need to have it cut out. Ophthalmologists fo it from under the lid, so there’s no scar, but it’s not available on the nhs in most areas of the country.

If it's been there that long it is likely to need to be removed - I think it is called a chalazion? I had one on each lower eyelid in the past and had to have both cut out. It actually wasn't as bad as it sounds!

This has been discontinued. It's been reformulated with an antibiotic now and is just licensed for conjunctivitis

I've had a chalazion for 4 months now, so fed up of looking like quasimodo I booked a private appointment to have it removed. After my 1st consultation it's reduced but I'm still booked in to have the op to take out what's left. Annoying that the NHS doesn't remove them anymore.

I've had a stye for 6-8 weeks a couple of times. Didn't turn into anything else, didn't go hard or need to be cut out. God they're annoying!

Thank you all for your replies and suggestions.

I now put a hot compress on my eye 5-6 times a day/night.

I just want it gone.
it’s reduced in size but still visible.
I really don’t want it cut out 😬

I have what I think is a chalazion on my upper eye lid or at least dr Google has led me to believe this is what it is. It’s been there for about 8 weeks now. First appeared when on holiday and it was sore so thought it was a stye. The soreness disappeared within a few days but the hard lump is still there. I have tried hot compresses but nothing has worked so far. If it wasn’t so difficult to get a gp appointment I would get it checked but am tempted to book an opticians appointment instead even though my eye test is not due for another year just to get it checked.

Still struggling with removing this stye/chalazion but really don’t want it cut out. Preserving with heated eye masks, cold tea bags, etc… it’s reduced in size I think.

It’s just frustrating.

I've had trouble with these before, too. Wiping my glasses with alcohol and a clean cloth twice a day and religiously avoiding touching my eyes helped. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Styes suck.

@MrsBean21 did you ever resolve it? Please give me hope the hot water works at some point 😫

@Mimi2022 Yes it did finally go away. I persisted with warm compresses 3-4 times a day. Used eye wash daily. I also bought a thermaheat eye mask (you can heat up in microwave or chill in freezer) and used regularly. I checked in with optician who had no concerns with the stye.

You need to keep going with the warm compresses numerous times a day.

keeping the eye clean. And your glasses clean.

Good luck

I ended up having mine removed. Optician confirmed it was a chalazion and to use hot eye masks but it was stubborn. Surgery was fine, took about 10 minutes then had to wear an eye patch for 24 hours. NHS won’t touch them unless it is causing problems with your vision. I paid £700 to have it removed privately.

@MrsBean21 That’s good to hear! I hate it. Have had it for 6 weeks now after wearing make up from a MUA.
I’ll check in with the optician just incase as well.

@cassgate I’m glad you got it sorted. Did you have to go under GA?

Try steam directly on your closed eyelid.