5-Minute Clinical Consult
Hordeolum (Stye)
BASICS
DESCRIPTION
- An acute inflammation or infection of the eyelid margin involving the sebaceous gland of an eyelash (external hordeolum) or a meibomian gland (internal hordeolum)
- System(s) affected: skin/exocrine
- Synonym(s): internal hordeolum; external hordeolum; zeisian stye; meibomian stye; stye
EPIDEMIOLOGY
- Predominant age: none
- Predominant sex: male = female
Incidence
Unknown: Although external hordeolum is common, internal hordeolum is rare.
ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
- Bacterial infection of sweat or sebaceous glands, causing an acute inflammatory reaction
- In an internal hordeolum, the meibomian gland may become obstructed, leading to a pustule on the conjunctival surface as opposed to the margin of the eyelid.
- Most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus (~90–95% of all cases) or by Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Seborrhea can predispose to infections of the eyelid.
Genetics
No known genetic pattern
RISK FACTORS
- Poor eyelid hygiene
- Previous hordeolum
- Contact lens wearers
- Application of makeup
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Predisposing blepharitis (low-grade infections of the eyelid margin)
- Ocular rosacea
GENERAL PREVENTION
Eyelid hygiene
COMMONLY ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS
- Acne
- Seborrhea
- An association may exist between hordeolum during childhood and developing rosacea in adulthood.
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Hordeolum (Stye)." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 34th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2026. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116285/all/Hordeolum__Stye_.
Hordeolum (Stye). In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2026. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116285/all/Hordeolum__Stye_. Accessed July 17, 2025.
Hordeolum (Stye). (2026). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (34th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116285/all/Hordeolum__Stye_
Hordeolum (Stye) [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2026. [cited 2025 July 17]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116285/all/Hordeolum__Stye_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Hordeolum (Stye)
ID - 116285
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116285/all/Hordeolum__Stye_
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 34
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
