Styes are like pimples in that you often feel them coming on before they actually make a grand appearance on your face. And, just like when we get a pimple, we’re usually pretty desperate to get rid of styes as quickly as possible, which, according to ophthalmologist Jesse Pelletier, MD, FACS in Miami Beach, Florida can take anywhere between three and 14 days.
“It really depends on its anatomic location,” says Pelletier. “Styes are classified as either external or internal, depending on whether the infection involves a lash follicle or deeper oil glands along your eyelid. The swelling from a stye typically starts to improve by the third day, but the entire healing process can take up to two weeks.”