Index
A stye is a small painful lump (cyst) inside or outside the eyelid.
It is usually related to bacterial infections; doctors sometimes refer to them as infected eyelid cysts.
Styes usually affects one eye, but they may enter both eyes or have more than one style in the same eye.
Some people confuse styles with another type of lump in the eye called a chalazion. Unlike styes, chalazions are mostly painless.
Chalazion appears as small bumps on the eyelid caused by blocked sebaceous glands. If left untreated, some styles eventually become chalazion.
If you notice a sore spot on the eyelashes without the appearance of a lump, a stye may be starting to develop. Use it as a warning sign and immediately apply warm compresses to the area.
This allows you to treat the stye as quickly as possible and accelerate healing.
If you find that you have severe problems with your vision and your style does not heal on its own within a week or two, you should seek the help of a health professional.
Styes may burst as they heal and release fluid or decrease in size without draining as the immune system fights infection.
The bacterium from a stye can sometimes spread and cause other sites, causing the person to have multiple styles or the entire eyelid infected.
If you notice that the irritation and swelling have moved beyond your eye and have spread to other areas of your face, such as the cheek, it is best to visit a health professional.
What causes styes?
Styes are usually caused by staphylococcal bacteria, which often live directly on the skin’s surface. Our bodies are covered with billions of friendly bacteria that coexist with us.
When conditions are right, bacteria feast on dead cells and other debris.
Symptoms
- Sensation of a foreign body in the eye (particularly when blinking).
- Eye pressure
- Pain in the area of the lump, although they are often painless.
- Blurred vision may also occur if the sebum or heavy pus in the stye extends over the surface of the eye.
- Presence of a lump or protuberance on the edge of the eyelid.
- Reddening of the skin covering the eyelid.
- Swelling of the eyelid
If the style is draining material from the opening of the gland, there may be a thick discharge or accumulation of scabby material on the eyelashes.
In some cases, the skin that covers the stye will become thinner, and the thick material inside the stye (pus) may exude through a break in the skin. Tears can also occur in response to irritation and pain.
Treatment
It would help if you cleaned the affected area, for example, with a swab soaked in a cosmetic gel cleansing product or impregnated wipes for eyelid hygiene. Applying clean and warm wipes will facilitate the evacuation of the pus and relieve pain.
In the case of an external style, when it is usually pierced after a week, the pus and crusts formed should be removed with these products that ophthalmologists have evaluated.
If, after a week, the stye persists and the pus is still present despite compressing, do not try to burst it yourself as you are at risk of a more severe infection. Consult your doctor, who will prescribe the correct treatment.
In the case of an interior style, it is best to consult your doctor immediately.
If you have styles repeatedly, you should also consult your doctor to check you and make sure you do not have a disease that promotes infection.
The daily hygiene of the eyelids with good products will limit the risk of recurrence; warm compresses are applied for 5 minutes in a closed eye, followed by an eyelid massage.
Is it possible to prevent a stye?
The best prevention is to keep the eyelids and eyelashes clean. This can be done with daily exfoliating shampoos for babies diluted while showering or with eyelid-cleaning pads available in pharmacies. Many people benefit from the daily warm compresses.
It is believed that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., fish or nuts) and vegetables has an anti-inflammatory effect and is associated with improved meibomian gland function and better eye health in general.
