My Stye Popped – What Should I Do Now?

 

Sometimes, a simple question needs a more complicated answer. That’s exactly how I felt when a follower on tiktok asked:

"Hi! My stye popped on its own today and now my eyelid feels funny. It's on my upper inner lash line. Should I set up an appointment with my optometrist or keep doing warm compress for swelling? TIA!!." 

 

 

Understanding the Situation When Your STYE POPPED

When a stye pops on its own, it may seem like a relief at first, but the aftermath can leave your eyelid feeling tender, weird, or even a bit swollen. Your upper inner lash line is a delicate area, and any disruption there needs careful attention. It’s important to recognize that a STYE POPPED naturally doesn’t automatically mean you’re in the clear. When a stye pops (fast) instead of slowly oozes (slow), I'm always concerned for 1) secondary infection; and 2) eyelid scarring. Around the inner lash line, I'm also super concerned for scarring in that area as that could affect future eyelash growth. 

 

 

Immediate Self-Care: An Eye Care Routine and Eyelid Hygiene

I recommend that you continue with warm compresses to help encourage proper drainage of that stye pop debris. Here’s what you can do:

• Warm Compress: Heat Focused Eye Roll (see 1) under running warm/hot water. Roll for 30 seconds. You will want to roll in the direction towards the lash line. Be gentle. Broken skin from the stye pop is fragile and does not like too much heat. Repeat this 1–4 times a day depending on how your eyelid feels.
• Wash the Eye Area: Gently wash your eyelid with my Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser (blue label) or SuperGLA (purple label) Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser (see 2).  Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eye area.
• Spray it Clean: Keep the area spotless by spraying right over closed eyes, targeting the area of concern. Use Calm Eyelid & Eyelid Cleansing Spray (see 3)at least once every 1-2 hours. This will help would healing.
• Avoid Rubbing: Resist the temptation to rub or squeeze the area further. A stye popped might be sensitive now, and additional pressure just makes it feel worse and delays healing. The more picking, the more likelihood of scarring too. So don't do it.
• Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep an eye on any signs of increased redness, pain, or discharge. A slight funny feeling can be normal post-incident, but significant discomfort might indicate that further treatment is needed.

For a well-rounded STYE TREATMENT, these steps can be effective in many cases. If you’re eager to GET RID OF A STYE FAST, it’s essential to stick with your self-care routine and observe how your eyelid responds over the next 24 to 48 hours.

 

 

When to Set Up an Appointment with Your Optometrist

Now, the key question: Should you set up an appointment or keep at home with warm compresses? Here are some red flags to watch for:

• Persistent Pain or Swelling: If your eyelid continues to feel “funny” or if the swelling increases after 48 hours, it may be time for a professional evaluation.
• Signs of Infection: Look for increasing redness, warmth, or if you notice pus that hasn’t resolved. These could be signs that the infection is not fully controlled. The pus will be yellow / green-ish in color.
• Vision Changes: Although rare, any change in your vision or increased sensitivity to light should prompt an appointment.
• Recurring Issues: If you’ve had similar incidents before or if this problem keeps coming back, it’s wise to get an expert opinion.

In such cases, a visit to your optometrist is warranted for an EFFECTIVE STYE TREATMENT that involves a personalized stye cleansing type eye care routine and prescription antibiotic eye drops or prescription oral antibiotics. Sometimes steroids are involved if there is substantial inflammation, pain and/or worrisome for potential eyelid scarring. 

 

 

TL;DR - My Philosophy

Every stye popped situation is different. In general after a stye has popped and my patient has reached out to me - I always want to see them for an office visit. We discuss the severity and risk for infection and scarring. In general, my patients are most concerned about potential scarring. They usually do elect to start a course of prescription antibiotic / steroid combination eye drops or ointment to prevent scar tissue from forming. Then they continue with my eye care plan to prevent / limit eyelid scarring. Read more about my stye scarring care HERE and how to continue to heal a stye scar naturally HERE.

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About Dr. Tanya Gill, OD

Dr. Tanya Gill, OD is the founder of We Love Eyes and is dedicated to providing comprehensive eye care and expert guidance on a range of ocular concerns. To find an eye care routine tailored to your needs or to learn more about managing your eye problem, visit weloveeyes.com.

 

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• STYE POPPED
• STYE TREATMENT
• GET RID OF A STYE FAST
• EFFECTIVE STYE TREATMENT
• stye
• eyelid swelling
• optometrist appointment
• eye care
• We Love Eyes
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• Dr. Tanya Gill, OD