Stye Treatment in Santa Monica

A stye, or hordeolum, is a painful, red bump on the edge of the eyelid caused by a blocked and infected oil gland or lash follicle. A chalazion is a related, usually painless lump that forms when an oil gland becomes blocked and inflamed without active infection.

Styes usually develop over a few days.

• A red, tender bump on the eyelid margin
• Swelling of the eyelid
• A feeling of something in the eye
• Tearing or light sensitivity

Styes are often linked to blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, demodex, rosacea, old makeup, and touching the eyes. People with dry eye are also more prone to them.

Warm compresses several times a day help many styes drain on their own. See us if a stye does not improve within a week or two, keeps coming back, affects your vision, or if swelling spreads across the eyelid or face.

We treat active styes with targeted care, including prescription medications when needed. For recurring styes, we look for the underlying cause and may recommend Lash Zest treatments to clean the lid margins, low level light therapy, meibomian gland expression or IPL through our Dry Eye Treatment Center.