Help I have a stye in my eye and I haven’t had one since I was young. I woke up and it had popped up. I really don’t feel too well so I’m not sure what is really going on however it is definitely a “stye.” So what really is a stye? “A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a bacterial infection of an oil gland in the eyelid. This results in a red tender bump at the edge of the eyelid. The outside or the inside of the eyelid can be affected.” Pretty simple really – could be a few days, it could be a week. I look rough.