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If your stye hasn’t completely healed, a bump may remain due to the buildup of scar tissue that forms in response to the inflammation
If your stye hasn’t completely healed, a bump may remain due to the buildup of scar tissue that forms in response to the inflammation. The bump is generally harmless and rarely affects vision.
Other causes of a bump even after a stye is gone include:
- Reinfection
- Reaction to medications applied (granuloma)
- Foreign body at the site of a stye (cotton fibers used to clean the eye)
If the bump does not go away with home treatment, avoid poking or squeezing as doing so can lead to serious problems. Consult an eye doctor who can diagnose the cause of the bump and possibly prescribe an antibiotic to clear it up.
What causes a stye?
Styes are a result of inflammation of the meibomian or oil glands located on the edge of the eyelids due to an obstruction by oil plug, dead skin cells, and bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). This causes the gland to swell, become red and tender, and appear as a bump on the eyelid.
Styes can be internal (grows in the inner side of the eyelids) or external (grows on the outer surface of the eyelids).
An unhealed stye can cause a chalazion to develop, which appears as a pea-shaped, painless bump or cyst in the eyelids. It can affect both upper and lower eyelids and both eyes at the same time
Eye conditions that predispose a person to develop styes include:
- Meibomitis (inflammation of the meibomian glands)
- Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)
- Rosacea (skin condition that causes redness and small bumps on the face)
- Seborrheic dermatitis (inflammation of sebaceous glands characterized by oily and scaly patches on scalp or face)
- Eye infections
- Not removing eye makeup before going to sleep
- Uncorrected refractive errors
What are the symptoms of a stye?
Symptoms may include:
- Redness and tenderness on the edge of the eyelids
- Pain or swelling at the site
- Sensation of something stuck in the eye
- Itching and irritation
- Light sensitivity
- Watery eyes
- Blurred or blocked vision
How do I get rid of the bump on my eyelid?
Symptoms can be relieved with the following tips:
- Apply warm compresses 1-2 times a day for 10-15 minutes, which helps open the blocked pore and promotes draining and healing.
- Gently massage the eyelid to open the blocked gland.
- Wash your hands before and after touching the eyes.
- Avoid rubbing the eyes.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses until your eye has healed.
- Avoid using eye makeup.
- Over-the-counter eye drops may help relieve pain.
- Protect the eyes from dust and pollution.
- Splash cold water over the eyes regularly if you spend a lot of time staring at screens.
How long does it take for a stye bump to go away?
Most of the time, bumps left after a stye resolve on their own within 1-2 weeks.
In rare cases, if they become infected and require surgical removal, antibiotics, and corticosteroid injections to reduce swelling and pain.