Can styes cause dry eyes​?

Styes are common and uncomfortable.
Dry eyes are also very common.

Many people ask:

“Can styes cause dry eyes?”

The answer is yes, they can be linked.

In this blog, we explain:

• What styes are
• What dry eye is
• How styes and dry eyes are connected
• What symptoms to watch for

What help is available

What is a stye?

A stye is a small, sore lump on the eyelid.

It is caused by:

• A blocked oil gland
• Bacteria

Styes can appear:

• On the edge of the eyelid
• Inside the eyelid

They often look red and swollen and may be painful.

What is dry eye?

Dry eye happens when:

• Your eyes do not make enough tears, or
• Your tears dry up too fast

Tears help keep the eyes:

• Smooth
• Comfortable
• Clear

When tears do not work well, eyes can feel sore.

Common dry eye symptoms

Dry eyes may cause:

• Burning or stinging
• A gritty or sandy feeling
• Red eyes
• Blurry vision
• Watery eyes
• Tired or heavy eyes

Symptoms may come and go or stay for a long time.

How are styes and dry eyes linked?

Styes and dry eyes often share the same cause.

The eyelids have tiny oil glands.
These glands:

• Make oil for your tears
• Stop tears from drying too fast

When these glands become blocked:

• A stye can form
• Tears dry up faster
• Dry eye symptoms can appear

Can a stye make dry eyes worse?

Yes.

A stye can:

• Block oil flow
• Cause eyelid swelling
• Change how tears spread over the eye

This can make dry eyes feel worse.

Can dry eyes cause styes?

Yes, this can happen too.

Dry eyes can cause:

• Thick oil in the glands
• Blocked glands
• More chance of infection

This can lead to repeated styes.

Why do styes keep coming back?

Styes may return if:

• Oil glands stay blocked
• Eyelids are not cleaned well
• Dry eye is not treated
• Inflammation is present

Treating dry eye can help reduce repeat styes.

Who is more likely to get styes and dry eyes?

You may be more at risk if you:

• Use screens a lot
• Wear contact lenses
• Have blepharitis
• Have dry eye disease
• Touch your eyes often
• Do not clean eyelids well

Both problems are very common.

How are styes treated?

Most styes improve with simple care, such as:

• Warm compresses
• Gentle eyelid cleaning
• Good hand hygiene

Some styes may need medical treatment.

How is dry eye treated?

Dry eye treatment depends on the cause.

It may include:

• Preservative-free eye drops
• Warm eye masks
• Eyelid cleaning
• Lifestyle advice
• IPL treatment

Treating the oil glands is often key.

Why is eyelid hygiene important?

Clean eyelids help:

• Keep oil glands open
• Reduce bacteria
• Improve tear quality
• Lower the risk of styes

Simple daily care can make a big difference.

Can dry eye improve once styes are treated?

Yes.

When eyelids are healthier:

• Oil glands work better
• Tears last longer
• Eyes feel more comfortable

Many people notice improvement within weeks.

When should I seek help?

You should seek help if:

• Styes keep coming back
• Dry eyes last more than a few weeks
• Eye drops do not help
• Vision becomes blurry
• Eyes feel painful

An assessment can find the cause.

Why choose My Eye Clinic in Gosforth?

At My Eye Clinic, we:

• Treat dry eye and eyelid problems together
• Look for the real cause
• Offer modern dry eye treatments
• Create clear care plans

Our goal is healthy eyelids and comfortable eyes.

Take the dry eye suitability self-test

If you get styes or dry eyes often, help is available.

Take our quick dry eye suitability self-test to see if a dry eye assessment may be right for you.