Eyelid Stye

Eyelid Stye

Fact Checked
Eyelid Stye
Eyelid Stye

A stye also called hordeolum is a bacterial contamination that occurs on the eyelids. It is characterized by the growth of an inflamed lesion on the eyelid. The location of the lesion is generally at the eyelid margin and it can be in the outer or inner skin of the eyelid. A chronic form of stye called chalazion has a different cellular makeup than that of a normal stye.

The occurrence of stye is due to abnormality in the meibomian and sebaceous oil glands of the eyelid. It is due to the blockage of the normal openings of these glands and it eventually leads to swelling and inflammation.

Who’s At Risk?

The problem of stye and chalazion is a common occurrence. It is more likely for an individual to suffer from it is they have the following:

  • Problematic skin like dry skin issues.
  • Poor hygienic condition of the eyelids.
  • No proper removal of eye-makeup.
  • Hormonal changes
  • Acne rosacea.
  • Use of expired and outdated eye makeup products.
  • Blepharitis
  • Increasing stressful lifestyle.

Signs and Symptoms:

If you notice a pus filled lesion on the edge of your eyelid and any kind of swelling in that area, it can likely be a stye.

In case of chalazion, the lesions are sort of a rounded lump and are harder in consistency. Other signs and symptoms of stye you may experience are as follows:

  • Moderate to somewhat severe pain.
  • Redness of the eye
  • Pus like discharge from the swelling
  • The swelling is tender to touch
  • Mild blurring of vision
  • Feeling of a burning sensation in the area
  • Itching on the eyelids
  • Occurrence of crusting of the eyelid edges

Self-Care Guidelines

Application of warm compresses on the lesion area till the pus is drained out. The compresses should be not very hot as the stye skin area is very tender and very hot compresses may burn the delicate skin. If the pus is fully drained out, it can heal in a week’s time. During this period the maintaining good hygiene of the body is very important. Note that at the beginning of warm compresses, the stye will temporarily get larger before the pus gets drained out.

When to Seek Medical Care:

If the styes and chalazions are recurring without any known cause, then there might be an underlying serious medical condition that needs immediate attention. Also if the stye symptoms worsen, then seek medical care. The worsening symptoms are as follows:

  • The eyelids swell so much that you cannot open your eyes.
  • Even after the application of warm compresses, there is no improvement I the condition of stye.
  • The pus in the swelling is very thick.
  • There is severe pain and tenderness in the area.
  • The eyelid gets too hot to touch and you develop fever.
  • The occurrence of stye is very frequent at the same location.
  • There is blurring of vision. In some cases you may experience double vision.

Your doctor will evaluate your condition and accordingly he will choose the appropriate treatment for you. Treatment can be various like surgical incision and drainage, antibiotic ointment and drops, injection of steroid into the swelling, oral antibiotics, etc. if your doctor suspects an underlying medical condition for its occurrence, then he will try and find it and treat it.

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