# Does rubbing gold on a sty (stye?) in your eye work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798 "2004-04-07T19:31:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smootman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@smootman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smootman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798/1 "2004-04-07T19:31:40Z")
I had a stye once and my mom rubbed gold on it… and i remember it going away… was it a fluke or does it really work? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798/2 "2004-04-07T20:11:36Z")
It worked for me…but then heat, as in a warm wash rag, will bring it to a head too. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798/3 "2004-04-07T20:20:47Z")
You can get some goo at the pharmacy over the counter too. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798/4 "2004-04-07T22:51:16Z")
I think that we’re in the realm of medical superstition, here. In other words, your results might be just as good if you put garlic in your shoes, or if you walk in clockwise circles. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798/5 "2004-04-07T23:34:49Z")
Funny you should ask because I happen to have one in my right eye at the moment. [Health Central: Stye](http://www.healthcentral.com/library/librarycontent.cfm?id=709) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798/6 "2004-04-08T00:17:29Z")
Okay, **sailor,** walk in clockwise circles, and let us know how it works out. ---
**Author:** ![Call\_me\_Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Call\_me\_Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Call_me_Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798/7 "2004-04-08T03:08:28Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Okay, **sailor,** walk in clockwise circles, and let us know how it works out. Oh that’s just simply rediculous! How is _walking_ in clockwise circles going to help his eye?? …he needs to roll his _eyes_ in clockwise circles… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![smootman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@smootman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smootman)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-rubbing-gold-on-a-sty-stye-in-your-eye-work/238798/8 "2004-04-08T14:12:40Z")
Not to mention, he’ll totally F up his peripheral vision in the direction he’s walking… make sure to do this in an open field…