How to Get Rid of a Star Eye

Written by Lauren Thomason

27 July, 2017

Fact Checked

Eye infections not only look unsightly, but they are also uncomfortable. Stys, sometimes called “star eyes," are small infections located along the edge of your eyelid that commonly look like pimples. Stys most commonly form on the outside of the eyelid, but can also form on the inside. Although the infection will clear by itself after a few days, there are a few ways to relieve the pain and get rid of this bothersome issue quicker.

Is This an Emergency?

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Run the water in your tap until it gets warm. Make sure the water does not get too hot for your hands. If it is too hot for your hands, it will be too hot to place on your face. Readjust the temperature accordingly.

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Place the washcloth under the water until it is saturated. Wring out the excess water.

Close your eyes, and apply the washcloth to affected area for 15 minutes, every 2-3 hours. If the washcloth becomes too cold, place it underneath warm water again.

How to Get Rid of a Sty on Your Eye

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Clean the eye area with a mild soap, avoiding getting the actual soap into your eyes. Use only clean towels to dry the eye area 2. When finished, place the used towel in the laundry to limit further infections.

Tips

Avoid touching your eye to prevent spreading the sty infection. Also, avoid wearing contacts, and limit the amount of make-up you wear near your eyes during this time too.

Wash your hands more often than normal when you have a sty.

Warnings

The Mayo Clinic website notes that while most stys go away by themselves after a week, you should contact a doctor if the swelling increases beyond the eyelid or if it does not go away after seven days.

Do noy try to squeeze the puss out of the sty. This may cause more damage and irritate the delicate skin near your eye, making it appear worse.