STYE

If you happen to spot a little bump resembling a pimple near your upper or lower eyelid, chances are it could be a stye. Now, what exactly is a stye? It’s essentially an infection that occurs in the oil glands around your eyelids, often popping up right beside your eyelashes. Typically, this pesky red bump filled with pus sticks around for a few days, eventually bursting and healing on its own. However, in some cases, you might need treatment to clear up the infection.

Styes have a knack for showing up in just one eye at a time, though some unfortunate folks experience them repeatedly.

Causes

The primary culprit behind styes is bacteria, particularly a type known as staphylococcus. Our bodies host billions of bacteria, many of which coexist harmlessly with us. However, when conditions are just right, these bacteria can multiply excessively, leading to an infection.

Several factors can trigger the onset of a stye. For instance, frequent touching or rubbing of the eyes, especially with hands carrying bacteria, can pave the way for an infection. This tendency might increase during allergy seasons when our eyes tend to get itchy. Additionally, using old makeup or leaving eye cosmetics on overnight can create a breeding ground for bacteria, further increasing the risk of infection.

When bacteria invade an inner eyelid gland, it results in an internal stye. On the other hand, an external stye occurs when an infection takes hold in a gland within the eyelash follicle.

Types of stye

When it comes to styes, there are two main types you should know about:

External stye: This is the type you’re likely most familiar with. It crops up on the outer edge of your eyelid, typically close to your eyelashes. The culprit behind this type is an infection that takes hold in a tiny oil gland within one of your eyelash follicles.
Internal stye: Unlike its external counterpart, internal styes form on the inside of your eyelid. Here, the infection targets a gland responsible for producing oils to keep your eyelids nice and moist.

Risk Factors

Certain factors can increase your likelihood of developing styes. These include:

Previous Styes: If you’ve had styes before, you’re more prone to getting them again in the future.
Blepharitis: This condition, characterized by inflamed eyelids, can heighten the risk of styes.
Skin Issues: Skin problems like acne, rosacea, dandruff, or dryness can also make you more susceptible to styes.
Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes may be at a higher risk of developing styes.
Hormonal Changes: Ongoing hormonal fluctuations, such as those occurring during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, can increase stye risk.
High Cholesterol: Elevated levels of harmful cholesterol in the body may also contribute to the likelihood of styes.

Additionally, certain habits can raise the risk of stye formation, such as frequently touching your eyes with unwashed hands, leaving eye makeup on overnight, or using expired cosmetics.

Symptoms

Now, how do you know if you’ve got a stye? Look out for these symptoms:

A small, red, and painful lump at the base of your eyelash for external styes, or a bump inside the lid for internal styes.
Swelling of the eyelid
Eye discharge
Crustiness on the lid
Sensitivity to light
An itchy, scratchy feeling in your eye
A sensation like there’s something in your eye
Watery eyes or excessive tearing

When to see a doctor

Knowing when to seek medical attention is crucial. While most styes resolve on their own without intervention and typically don’t affect your vision or eyeball, there are instances when you should consult a doctor:

If a growth around your eye fails to improve within a few days.
If the growth rapidly increases in size.
If it starts to bleed.
If it begins to affect your vision.

Furthermore, any unusual changes such as discoloration in the white of your eye or reddening in your cheeks or face could indicate a spreading infection. In such cases, it’s essential to see your doctor promptly for evaluation and appropriate treatment.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a stye is usually straightforward, and you can often identify one when it pops up. Most of the time, seeking medical attention isn’t necessary. However, if you do decide to see a doctor, your regular physician or an eye doctor can typically diagnose a stye just by taking a look. They might use a light and magnifying glass to get a closer examination of your eyelid. Occasionally, you may undergo a more thorough eye exam if needed.

Treatments

Now, let’s talk about how to get rid of a stye. While a stye may resemble a pimple, resist the urge to pop it. Squeezing or popping a stye can actually cause the infection to spread to other parts of your eye.

The quickest way to bid farewell to a stye is by using warm compresses. Simply hold a warm, damp, clean washcloth against your eyelid for about 10 to 15 minutes, three to five times a day. This helps to soften the stye, unclog it, and promote drainage. Warm compresses are also beneficial for dealing with chalazia.

If self-treatment doesn’t do the trick, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor. They may recommend additional treatments, such as:

Stye drainage: Your doctor may numb the area and make a small incision to drain the pus.
Stye medication: You might receive a prescription for antibiotic ointment to apply to your eye for a few days. In some cases, oral antibiotics may be prescribed, especially if there’s a significant infection or if you’ve undergone a draining procedure. Additionally, steroid injections may be administered to reduce eyelid swelling.
Stye eye drops: Antibiotic eye drops may also be prescribed to help combat the infection. You can also inquire about over-the-counter drops and other products that can provide relief for your eye.

In addition to warm water compresses, you might explore other self-care options, such as:

Green Tea Compresses: Soaking green tea bags in warm water and applying them to your eyes might help. Some studies suggest that natural compounds in green tea can act as a mild antibiotic, potentially breaking down bacteria cell walls. While eye experts have mixed opinions on its effectiveness, moist tea bags should provide similar relief to warm water alone.
Eyelid Cleaners: You can use eyelid cleaning pads available in stores or create your own eye wash solution using half baby shampoo and half-water. Gently wipe the affected eye to keep it clean and free from irritants.
Avoid Irritants: Give your eye a break from potential irritants by skipping eye makeup and contact lenses until the stye has resolved.

Prevention

Some preventive measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of styes returning:

Frequent Hand Washing: Since hands often carry dirt and germs that can lead to styes, keep them clean by washing with soap and warm water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid Touching Your Eyes: Resist the urge to rub your eyes, especially when they’re itchy, as this can introduce dirt and bacteria that may cause styes. Consider using allergy medication if itching is a problem, particularly during allergy season.
Remove Makeup Before Bed: Wash off makeup every night to prevent blockage of pores and hair follicles, which can contribute to styes. Additionally, regularly replace eyeliner and mascara every 2 to 3 months and avoid sharing makeup with others.
Maintain Clean Contacts: Wash your hands before handling contact lenses and follow your doctor’s instructions for cleaning and disinfecting them.
Manage Blepharitis: If you have frequently inflamed eyelids, seek advice from your doctor on managing the condition, which may involve daily eyelid cleaning.

Chalazion and stye

Now, let’s talk about chalazion versus stye. A chalazion is a bit of a different story in the realm of eyelid bumps. It tends to appear more on the underside of your upper eyelid, but it’s not uncommon to find one chilling out on the lower lid too. Unlike a stye, a chalazion is caused by blockages in your lid’s oil glands rather than an infection. Though it can sometimes emerge after dealing with a stye, the distinctive thing about a chalazion is that it’s often not painful. While styes typically clear up in a few days, chalazia—yes, that’s the plural of chalazion—can hang around for weeks or even months, though they usually resolve on their own without much fuss.

Stye and pink eye

Now, onto stye versus pink eye. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, involves inflammation of the membrane lining your inner eyelid and eyeball surface. The hallmark sign? Your usually white eyes take on a reddish or pinkish hue. Alongside this, you might notice swollen, crusty eyelids. While a stye can be caused by a bacterial infection, pink eye tends to be triggered by a virus. Plus, here’s the kicker: pink eye is highly contagious, unlike a stye.

FAQs

Now, let’s address some common questions:

Are styes caused by stress? While stress itself doesn’t directly cause styes, it may elevate your risk for developing an infection, which can then lead to a stye.
Are styes contagious? Generally, styes don’t spread from person to person or even from one eye to the other. However, there is a possibility of transferring small amounts of bacteria if you touch your infected eye and fail to wash your hands afterward.

While having a stye can be uncomfortable, most cases can be managed with warm compresses and will resolve within a few days. Although styes aren’t contagious and typically don’t lead to serious eye problems, it’s essential to see a doctor for treatment if needed.

Sources

Webmd
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care
Mayo Clinic
Stanford Health
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
University of Utah Health
Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials
Michigan Medicine Kellogg Eye Center