Recurring styes

[tpwood]

I had styes at my lower left eye lid in February 2013 and had 2 surgery to drain pus out. After 2 months it healed by using Zylet.

But about 3 days after stop using Zylet, styes returned. So I saw my doctor at local clinic and he gave me a steroid antibiotic eye drop. I used it for 2 weeks then healed but styes returned again. This time I went to see the second doctor in the capital city. He said that styes might recur like this. He had it once, it took him a year to fully heal. He said I shouldn't be worried too much about it. He gave me Maxitrol, I used it for 2 weeks and again healed. But again, styes came back after 4 days. This time I use only warm compression as I worried about getting glaucoma cause by using too much steroid. Now it's about 2 weeks, I still have a little eye gunk. I think I have pretty good hygiene.

Why styes keep recur?
Is there any other advices to prevent recurrant styes except for good hygiene?

Please help.

[tpwood]

I've tried your advice but there's still have eye gunk, any more advice?

[tpwood]

Thank you for your advice. I've bought 10 tablets of doxycycline for 5 days today.

Also I forgot to inform that I have granulation tissue in my eyelid after 2 surgeries. Is that the reason why styes return so often?

[Timothy D McGarity, M.D.]

Sounds like you have inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis). Using steroidal anti-inflammatories helps, when you stop the styes return.
Ways to control: hot compresses twice daily and omegas. Also, oral antibiotics may help, doxycycline or azithromycin.

Best Wishes,
Timothy D. McGarity, M.D. Ophthalmologist