I get them mostly in the fall. Keep your hands away from your eyes, if you have a habit of rubbing them be sure to wash your hands or use anitbacerial gel. If you get one, take a very warm (as warm as you can handle but not HOT) washcloth and press it on your eye for about 5 minutes a few times a day. The heat will bring out the infection and help it to heal in a couple of days. Also, if you wear eye makeup and you get a stye, get rid of the applicator immediately or wash it if you can. Eye pencils should be tossed if you get one or freeze it to get the infection off it.