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I have recurrent styes on my eyelids. As soon as one gets well I get another one. Is there anything that can be done to stop this problem?
I have recurrent styes on my eyelids. As soon as one gets well I get another one. Is there anything that can be done to stop this problem?
htmASKTHEDOCrecurrentstyes
The underlying problem is the oils made in the glands of your eyelid.
1367733
InteliHealth
2010-06-02
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Don Carl Bienfang, M.D.
2012-06-02
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Harvard Medical School
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General Medical Questions
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Q: I have recurrent styes on my eyelids. As soon as one gets well I get another one. Is there anything that can be done to stop this problem?
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The Trusted Source
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Don Carl Bienfang, M.D, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and the director of neuro-ophthalmology and senior surgeon of the Department of Ophthalmology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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June 02, 2010
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A:

The underlying problem is the oils made in the glands of your eyelid.

You are (for unknown reasons) producing oils that are plugging up your glands. The infection is secondary. It's happening because the gland is not able to discharge its contents. The medical term for this is "chronic marginal blepharitis".

Therapy involves two steps:

  1. Lid hygiene
    Use hot, moist compresses (clean towels) at least twice a day. (This is most important at bedtime.) This process warms the oils and makes them flow more easily. And the pressure of the compress forces the oils out of the lid glands. Do this for two minutes. Then, using "no tears" baby shampoo, wash the lids thoroughly.


  2. Change the nature of the oils
    Add omega-3 to your diet, through either fish or flaxseed oils. If you have a big event coming up, your doctor can prescribe doxycycline. This will temporarily change the viscosity of the oils. Using steroid/antibiotic eye drops is also a temporary fix.
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