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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffThe cause of a sty is a bacterial infection, usually staphylococcus. Usually the bacterial infection develops near the root (follicle) of an eyelash. You may have more than one sty at a time or several in succession.
Sties aren't especially contagious, but may develop due to poor hygiene habits. Sties may also develop if you use expired cosmetics or leave eye makeup on overnight. Contact lens wearers may develop sties if they don't thoroughly wash their hands and disinfect their contact lenses before putting their contacts in. Chronic blepharitis may also be a cause of sty formation. Treatment of the chronic blepharitis may help prevent sty recurrence.
