How to Treat Eyelid Stitches

A stye is a painful, red bump located on the edge of the eyelid, sometimes caused by an infection of the eyelash follicle or oil gland of the eyelid. Although styes often cause redness and pain, the swelling will usually heal on its own in about a week. ^{[1] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to the source} Regardless of the pain and discomfort it causes, styes are usually harmless. There are steps you can take to reduce pain and swelling, as well as prevent styes from recurring.

Table of Contents

Eye Stitch Treatment

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Clean up eye styes. In general, styes usually appear spontaneously, but sometimes the eye is exposed to foreign objects (eg, dirt or cosmetics). The stye itself is a mild infection. ^{[2] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source} If you have styes, the first thing you should do is clean the affected area. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Wash your hands thoroughly, then use a clean cotton ball or finger to gently rinse the stye with warm water. You can also use a solution made specifically for eyelids or a diluted baby shampoo that doesn’t sting. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Make sure your hands and the cotton ball you use are clean. Otherwise, you can spread more dirt and other germs to the stye.
Styes are usually caused by staph bacteria that get into the eyelash follicle or into a gland in the corner of the eye, usually through touching the eye with dirty hands. However, other types of bacteria can also cause styes. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Apply a warm compress. Warm compresses are the best treatment for painful, swollen styes. Use a clean towel or cloth dipped in warm water to make gauze. Apply gauze over your eyes and let them rest for about five to ten minutes. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

After the gauze has cooled, continue to dip the gauze in warm water and repeat the process above for about five to ten minutes.
Apply warm compresses about three to four times a day. You need to persevere with this treatment until the stye is completely cured. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
Moist and warm (not hot) tea bags are just as effective as gauze. ^{[8] X Source of Research} (Many people recommend chamomile tea bags because it’s soothing).
Using warm compresses can cause the stye to shrink and drain. If this happens, gently wipe away the pus. Avoid pressing or squeezing the eye; Only light force should be used.
When pus appears on the eye stye, the symptoms will subside quite quickly.

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Do not squeeze or squeeze the eye with your own hands. You may be tempted to squeeze the pus or fluid from the stye, but you shouldn’t! Squeezing or squeezing a stye will make the situation worse because this can spread bacteria or cause a serious infection, and possibly even scarring. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Use antibacterial cream. You can buy antibacterial creams specifically for the treatment of styes at drugstores. If you don’t know which one to choose, you can consult your pharmacist. Dab a small amount of cream onto the stye, being careful not to get it in your eyes. ^{[10] X Research Source}

These creams can help heal styes quickly. ^{[11] X Research Source}
The local anesthetics found in antibacterial creams also provide temporary relief from uncomfortable symptoms caused by styes. However, if this active ingredient gets into the eyes, it will cause damage to the eyes. Be careful when using. ^{[12] X Research Source}
If the cream gets into your eyes, gently rinse your eyes with warm water, ^{[13] X Source of Research} then see a doctor.
Do not use more cream than indicated on the package.

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Try natural remedies at home. Certain natural substances can help heal styes and reduce pain and swelling. Avoid getting these natural remedies in your eyes, and if you experience pain or discomfort, stop using them immediately. Although not medically proven, you can try the following natural methods to get rid of eye styes:

Use coriander seeds. Soak the coriander seeds in water for an hour, then strain out the seeds and use the water soaked in the seeds to wash your eyes. Coriander seeds are said to have properties that reduce puffiness under the eyes. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Use aloe. Aloe helps reduce redness. Cut an aloe leaf lengthwise and apply the inner part of the leaf to the infected area. If you can’t find aloe leaves, you can use gauze soaked in aloe juice to cover your eyes. Some people like to use a mixture of aloe vera juice and chamomile tea. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Use guava leaves to make gauze. This is a commonly used home remedy to relieve pain and swelling caused by styes. Wet guava leaves with warm water and apply to eyes for 10 minutes. ^{[16] X Research Source}
Use potatoes. Mash the potatoes into a paste and spread on a clean, soft cloth, then apply to the stye to reduce swelling. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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Use over-the-counter pain relievers. If the stye is very painful, use a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to ease the pain for the first few days. Choose one that contains aspirin or ibuprofen for immediate pain relief. ^{[18] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Use according to the dose indicated on the package.
Aspirin should not be given to children under 16 years of age. ^{[19] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Go see a doctor. You need to see a doctor if the stye does not go away after a week. If the stye is painful, or the red bump spreads quickly, or if vision is affected, seek medical attention immediately. ^{[20] X Research Source} If you have severe styes, this could be the result of other conditions. You will likely be diagnosed and treated with one of the following:

Your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics, especially if you have bacterial conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. This condition is usually cured quickly after antibiotic intervention. ^{[21] X Research Source}
The doctor may use a needle or sharp blade to prick the stye. This will allow pus to escape through a small puncture and help remove the stye. ^{[22] X Research Source}
If your skin is infected with certain diseases such as rosacea or seborrhea, you can easily get blepharitis. In this case, your doctor will ask you to follow a hygiene regimen for the eye area. ^{[23] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}^{[24] X Research Source}
If you don’t have your own eye doctor, you can consult a doctor you know and get a referral or check the optometrist section of your local phone book, or search the internet by typing “ophthalmologist” and include the name of the city or region you live in.
During the period of styes, you can go to the doctor at any time. You don’t have to wait a week before you can contact your doctor.

Prevention of Eye Stitch Recurrence

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Wash eyelids. If you have frequent styes, your eyes may be especially susceptible to bacterial infections. Use a clean washcloth and mild shampoo, such as baby shampoo, or eye drops, to gently wash your eyelids. Then rinse off with warm water. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

If you often get styes, you should wash your eyelids every day. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

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Wash your hands before touching your face. One of the most common causes of styes is bacteria that is passed from your hands to your eyes. ^{[27] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source} Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes.

Wash towels often, and avoid sharing towels with someone who has a stye.

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Clean contact lenses thoroughly. When you wear contact lenses, you have to touch your eyes often, so you need to make sure your hands are clean every time you put on or take off your lenses. Contact lenses themselves carry the risk of spreading bacteria to the eyes, so be sure to use lens cleaning solutions to clean them daily. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

Do not use contact lenses if you have styes. Using contact lenses when the eye is stye increases the risk of transmitting the bacteria that cause the stye to the cornea below.
Do not use contact lenses for longer than allowed. If you use contact lenses every day (for example, disposable), throw them away after a day of use. If you use a monthly lens (one that can be used multiple times within a month), be sure to change your lenses every month. ^{[29] X Research Sources}
Contact lenses should not be worn overnight. Even overnight safety glasses can cause problems if you are prone to styes. ^{[30] X Research Source}
Always follow your doctor’s instructions for proper use of contact lenses. Avoid using contact lenses in situations where they are recommended, such as while swimming (unless you use extra tight-fitting swim goggles).

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Make up properly. Eyeliner and eyeshadow applied on the rim of the eyelid can cause stye, especially if you tend to wear heavy makeup and “smack powder” several times a day. Apply makeup in the area above the eyelashes, and limit the amount of makeup you use.

Avoid going to bed with makeup on. Use makeup remover solutions to remove makeup, then splash warm water on your face to wash off makeup remover before going to bed.
Regularly change eye makeup and makeup tools. Eye makeup brushes, brushes, and pens get dirty over time, and you can transfer bacteria to your eyes every time you use them. ^{[31] X Research Source}
Similar to contact lenses, pencils and makeup brushes often come into contact with the eyes. If they contain harmful bacteria, they are easy to become the causative agent of styes. ^{[32] X Research Source}
Do not share eye makeup tools with others.

Advice

If you use contact lenses, you should wear glasses with frames instead of contact lenses when you have styes. ^{[33] X Research Sources}
To temporarily soothe the stye, place a chilled cucumber slice over your eyes for about 10-15 minutes.
If you don’t want to buy a new makeup brush, you can use antibacterial soap or olive oil to clean it.

Warning

It is best to see a doctor before deciding to treat a stye yourself.
Avoid squeezing or pricking the stye yourself. You can spread the bacteria, make the infection worse, and also leave a scar. ^{[34] X Research Source}
Avoid applying makeup around the stye, as this will make it worse. ^{[35] X Research Source}

Steps

Eye Stitch Treatment

Prevention of Eye Stitch Recurrence

Advice

Warning

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