A sty is caused by an infection of oil glands in the eyelid. The bacterium staphylococcus is commonly responsible for most of these infections. Risk ...Scheduleyourappointmentnowforsafein-personcare.Learnmore:MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)Our COVID-19patient andvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformationLateston COVID-19vaccination bysite:ArizonapatientvaccinationupdatesArizona,FloridapatientvaccinationupdatesFlorida,RochesterpatientvaccinationupdatesRochesterandMayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdatesMCHSSkiptositenavigationSkiptoContentThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion.SectionsforStySymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentPrintOverviewStyOpenpop-updialogboxCloseStyStyAstyisabacterialinfectioninvolvingoneormoreofthesmallglandsnearthebaseofyoureyelashes.Itissimilartoaboilorapimpleandisoftenpainful.Astyisared,painfullumpneartheedgeofyoureyelidthatmaylooklikeaboilorapimple.Stiesareoftenfilledwithpus.Astyusuallyformsontheoutsideofyoureyelid,butsometimesitcanformontheinnerpartofyoureyelid.Inmostcases,astywillbegintodisappearonitsowninacoupledays.Inthemeantime,youmaybeabletorelievethepainordiscomfortofastybyapplyingawarmwashclothtoyoureyelid.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinicSymptomsSignsandsymptomsofastyinclude:AredlumponyoureyelidthatissimilartoaboilorapimpleEyelidpainEyelidswellingTearingAnotherconditionthatcausesinflammationoftheeyelidisachalazion.Achalazionoccurswhenthere'sablockageinoneofthesmalloilglandsneartheeyelashes.Unlikeasty,achalazionusuallyisn'tpainfulandtendstobemostprominentontheinnersideoftheeyelid.Treatmentforbothconditionsissimilar.WhentoseeadoctorMoststiesareharmlesstoyoureyeandwon'taffectyourabilitytoseeclearly.Tryself-caremeasuresfirst,suchasapplyingawarmwashclothtoyourclosedeyelidforfiveto10minutesseveraltimesadayandgentlymassagingtheeyelid.Contactyourdoctorif:Thestydoesn'tstart