Why People with Dry Eye Get Styes and How to Prevent Them
- Michelle Carpenter
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
A stye is one of the most common eyelid problems people experience. It appears as a painful red bump along the eyelid, often near the eyelashes, and can look very similar to a small pimple. While many people think a stye is just a random infection, the truth is that styes are often connected to an underlying eye condition called dry eye disease.
At our eye clinics serving Dallas and Fort Worth, we frequently see patients who experience recurrent styes and the root cause is often dysfunction of the oil glands in the eyelids. Understanding why this happens can help prevent future episodes.
What Exactly Is a Stye?
A stye (hordeolum) occurs when one of the tiny oil glands in the eyelid becomes blocked and infected.
Your eyelids contain dozens of microscopic oil glands called Meibomian glands. These glands release oil that forms the outer layer of your tear film and keeps tears from evaporating too quickly.
Example of a stye forming along the eyelid margin. Styes occur when an eyelid oil gland becomes blocked and infected, causing a tender red bump near the eyelashes.
When one of these glands becomes blocked, bacteria can grow inside the gland and cause:
redness
swelling
tenderness
a small pus-filled bump
Eventually the stye may drain white or yellow material, which is a mixture of oil, bacteria, and inflammatory cells.
The Hidden Cause: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Many people who develop styes repeatedly actually have a condition called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
MGD occurs when the eyelid oil glands stop functioning properly. Instead of releasing healthy oil, the glands become:
blocked
inflamed
thickened
unable to drain normally
When oil sits trapped inside the gland, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, which can lead to a stye.
MGD is also one of the leading causes of dry eye disease.
Why Dry Eye Patients Get Styes More Often
Dry eye disease is not simply about having not enough tears. In most cases, it is actually caused by poor tear quality due to unhealthy oil glands.
When the oil glands are not functioning properly:
The tear film becomes unstable
The eyelids become inflamed
Oil becomes thick and clogged inside glands
Bacteria grow more easily
Styes develop
This is why people with dry eye frequently experience:
recurring styes
eyelid tenderness
crusting along the lashes
burning or irritation
fluctuating vision
Treating the underlying gland dysfunction is the key to preventing future styes.
How to Prevent Styes
Step 1: Cleanse-Cleansing Wipes
Cleanse – Coconut Balm Cleansing Wipes remove oil, debris, and makeup from the eyelids
The Coconut Balm Cleansing Wipes are designed to gently cleanse the eyelids and lash line, removing oil, bacteria, debris, and makeup that can accumulate throughout the day. Regular eyelid cleansing helps maintain a clean eyelid margin and supports healthy oil glands, which play an important role in tear film stability and overall eye comfort.
Instructions for Use
Wash your hands before beginning eyelid care.
Remove one Coconut Balm Cleansing Wipe from the package.
Close your eye and gently wipe across the eyelid and along the lash line.
Repeat on the lower eyelid, moving from the inner corner outward.
Use a fresh wipe for the other eye if desired.
Allow the eyelids to dry naturally before applying the next step in your eyelid care routine.
Use daily, especially in the evening, to help maintain clean eyelids and support healthy eyelid gland function.
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Step 2: Nourish – Eye Rescue Lidstick™
Step 2: Nourish – Eye Rescue Lidstick™
The Eye Rescue Lidstick™ is a nourishing eyelid balm formulated to hydrate, soothe, and protect the delicate skin around the eyes. Made with botanical oils and calming ingredients, it helps restore moisture to the eyelids while supporting the health of the eyelid margin.
Instructions for Use
Make sure the eyelids are clean and dry after Step 1.
Twist the base of the Lidstick™ until a small amount of balm appears at the tip.
Gently glide a thin layer of balm across the upper eyelid, just above the lash line.
Repeat along the lower eyelid area if desired.
Use your fingertip to lightly smooth the balm if needed.
Allow the balm to absorb before proceeding to the next step in your eyelid care routine.
For best results, apply in the evening to support overnight hydration and eyelid comfort.
Step 3: Heat Therapy – Peep Club Heated Eye Wand
The Heated Eye Wand delivers controlled therapeutic heat to the eyelids to help soften and mobilize oils within the eyelid glands. Consistent heat therapy supports healthy gland function and helps maintain the natural oil layer of the tear film.
Instructions for Use
Ensure the device is fully charged before use.
Turn on the Heated Eye Wand and allow it to warm up (approximately 60 seconds).
Select your preferred treatment mode.
Close one eye and gently glide the wand across the upper eyelid, moving slowly from the inner corner outward.
Repeat across the lower eyelid area if desired.
Treat each eye for approximately 2–4 minutes.
Turn the device off after use and allow it to cool before storing.
For best results, use daily as part of your eyelid care routine to support healthy oil gland function and overall eye comfort.
Treat the Root Cause with Professional Dry Eye Therapy
If styes keep returning, it is often a sign of underlying eyelid gland dysfunction or dry eye disease.
At Eyes Over DFW, our Flow Dry Eye program focuses on restoring the health of the eyelid glands and tear film.
Advanced treatments may include:
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to reduce eyelid inflammation and abnormal blood vessels
Radiofrequency eyelid therapy to gently heat and stimulate the oil glands
professional gland expression to remove trapped oil from blocked glands
advanced dry eye diagnostics to identify the underlying cause of gland dysfunction
These treatments address the root cause of recurring styes, not just the symptoms.
Does IPL or Radiofrequency Help a Stye Heal Faster?
Yes — both IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Radiofrequency treatments can help a stye heal faster because they address the underlying problem that caused the stye in the first place: blocked and inflamed oil glands in the eyelids.
A stye forms when one of the eyelid oil glands becomes clogged and bacteria begin to grow inside the gland. Treatments that reduce inflammation and help the gland drain can speed up recovery.
Radiofrequency works by delivering controlled heat deep into the eyelid tissues. This heat softens the thick oil trapped inside the blocked gland, making it easier for the gland to open and drain. When the gland drains, pressure and swelling often decrease more quickly, which can help the stye resolve faster.
IPL works a little differently. It targets the inflammation around the eyelids by reducing abnormal blood vessels that release inflammatory chemicals. When inflammation decreases, the eyelid environment becomes healthier and the oil glands can function normally again.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) for Recurrent Styes
The Cynosure Icon™ IPL device delivers controlled pulses of light around the eyelids to reduce inflammation and help blocked glands function normally again. IPL works by gently heating the skin and reducing inflamed blood vessels that contribute to gland blockage and recurring styes.
Benefits of IPL Treatment
Patients often choose IPL because it helps treat the root cause of recurring styes, not just the bump itself.
Benefits may include:
often a quicker healing & recovery time
fewer recurring styes
healthier eyelid glands
reduced eyelid redness and inflammation
improved tear quality and eye comfort
less irritation, burning, or dryness
Radiofrequency (RF) Treatment for Styes
TempSure Envi® uses gentle radiofrequency heat to warm the eyelids and soften blocked oils inside the glands. This controlled heat helps restore healthy gland function while also improving the appearance of the skin around the eyes. Radiofrequency treatments heat deeper tissue layers to melt gland blockages and improve oil secretion in the tear film
Benefits of Radiofrequency Treatment
Patients often choose radiofrequency because it helps both treat the current stye and improve gland function for the future.
Benefits may include:
helping stubborn styes drain more quickly
relieving pressure and tenderness in the eyelid
improving oil gland function
reducing the chance of future styes
improving dry eye symptoms
Dry Eye and Stye Treatment in Dallas and Fort Worth
At Eyes Over DFW, we specialize in diagnosing and treating dry eye disease and eyelid gland dysfunction, which are common causes of recurring styes.
Our Flow dry eye division focuses on restoring healthy tear function and improving eyelid gland health using advanced diagnostics and targeted treatments.
If you are experiencing frequent styes, eyelid irritation, or dry eye symptoms, a comprehensive evaluation can help identify the root cause and provide long-term relief.
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