Stye

What is a stye?

A stye or hordeolum is a small, painful lump on the inside or outside of the eyelid. It is actually an abscess filled with pus and is usually caused by a staphylococcus bacteria eye infection.

Styes are common with most people experiencing one or two of them at some stage in their life.

Styes are usually visible on the surface but can appear deeper inside the eyelid.

Types of stye

An external stye starts as a small spot next to an eyelash. It turns into a red, painful swelling that usually lasts several days before it bursts and then heals. Most external styes are short-lived and self-limiting.

An internal stye (on the underside of the lid) also causes a red, painful swelling, but its location prevents the familiar whitehead from appearing on the eyelid. The internal stye may disappear completely once the infection is past, or it may leave a small fluid-filled cyst or nodule that can persist and may have to be opened and drained.

People tend to confuse a stye with another common lid lump, the chalazion. A chalazion is very different from a stye and is not an infection. It is instead a firm, round, smooth, painless bump usually some distance from the edge of the lid. A chalazion is a local tissue reaction to oily glandular secretions that were unable to reach the lid surface because the duct was blocked by debris.

Styes and chalazia are usually harmless and rarely affect your eyeball or your eyesight. They can occur at any age and tend to periodically recur.

How can I prevent styes?

If styes tend to recur, you probably need to practise better eyelid hygiene. That means regular lid scrubs to remove excess germs and cellular debris. Put a few drops of mild baby shampoo into a teacup of warm water and stir. Using a cotton wool ball, gently brush the soapy solution along the base of your eyelashes while keeping your lids closed. If you don’t have time to mix up baby shampoo, scrub your closed lids with a soapy flannel in the shower.

Regardless of the technique, it is the mechanical rubbing that keeps the lids clear of cellular debris. It is always important that you avoid contact of the eyelid with cosmetics, dirty towels or contaminated hands.

Recurrent styes may be associated with a chronic facial skin problem calledrosacea. Your doctor or dermatologist will be able to confirm the presence of rosacea and recommend effective medical therapy.

Many people with styes experience pinpoint tenderness involving a few eyelashes as an early warning. Frequent application of warm compresses at the first sign of an infection will speed resolution and help prevent further blockage of the lid glands.

Treating a stye

Most styes get better without treatment within a few days or weeks.

External styes may turn into yellow spots and release pus after three to four days. Internal styes are more painful and may last slightly longer.

A warm compress (a cloth warmed with warm water) held against the eye will encourage the stye to release pus and heal more quickly.

Further treatment isn’t usually needed unless your stye is very painful and isn’t getting better. In this case, your GP may decide to drain it.

Complications of a stye

Your GP may prescribe antibiotics if you experience complications of a stye.

Complications can include:

• a chalazion (meibomian cyst) – which can develop if a gland in your eyelid is blocked
• preseptal cellulitis – an infection of the tissues around your eye

1. Treat Symptoms

• Most styes go away on their own in about a week.
• Apply a warm compress for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day. Use a clean washcloth or towel soaked in warm water. Keep eyes closed.

2. Protect Against Infection

• Keep the area clean and avoid touching or rubbing the eyes.
• Don’t squeeze the sty.
• Don’t use eye make-up or wear contact lenses.

3. Follow Up

In most cases, styes don’t require medical care. Call your health careprovider if:

• The stye doesn’t heal in a week or 10 days.
• The stye becomes more painful or swollen after several days of home treatment.
• The person also has fever or chills.
• The person develops vision problems.
• The person has recurring styes.
• The entire eyelid or eye itself is red or swollen.
• Redness spreads to around the eye or the cheek.
• The person has an abnormal immune system (for example, people with diabetes or HIV, patients receiving treatment for cancer, organ transplant recipients).