What is an effective home remedy for a stye in the eye?

Heat: Apply a very warm soaked wash rag over the closed lids for 4 minutes at a time about 4-5 times per day. This will usually work. See you ophthalmologist if the vision is disturbed or there is much pain.

Warm compresses: Warm compresses (wash cloth with hot water and hold it on the stye for 5-10 minutes, reheating as needed), or surgical incision and drainage, or steroid have been the only effective treatments demonstrated get rid of a stye. A stye is due to the orifice of an oil gland (mebomian gland) in the eyelid margin becoming inflamed, and not an infection, so antibiotics are not indicated.