Summary
A small red, painful lump in the edge of the eyelid.
Symptoms:
It may be present inside or outside the eyelid on one or both eyes and is characterized by red, hot, exquisitely tender swelling near the edge of the eyelid.
Diagnosis:
Stye can be self diagnosed as a small painful lump in the eyelid of one or both the eyes.
Facts
Can usually be self-diagnosed
Doesn’t require lab test or imaging
Can last several days or weeks
Transmitted through direct contact
Know More
-
It is actually abscess filled with pus.
-
Usually caused by staphylococcus bacterial infection.
-
It is mostly visible but sometime it can occur deep inside the eyelid.
-
An external stye starts as a small spot in the eyelid that becomes red, painful swelling and bursts and heals in several days.
-
An internal stye may form red painful swelling that goes off when the stye heals. Sometimes the internal stye may leave a fluid filled sac, which may need to be opened and drained.
Symptoms
The symptoms include:
A red, hot, exquisitely tender swelling near the edge of the eyelid
Inflamed (red and swollen) eyelids
Burning or sore eyes
Crusty eyelashes
Itchy eyelids
Causes
The causes include:
It is commonly caused by bacterial infection (staphylococcus).
External stye may be caused by the infection of:
Eyelash follicle – holes for growing eyelashes
The Sebaceous gland – sebum producing gland that prevents eyelashes from drying out
The apocrine gland
Internal Stye may be caused when meibomian glands becomes infected.
Diagnosis
Stye can be self diagnosed as a small painful lump in the eyelid of one or both the eyes.
The doctor can diagnose the condition just by looking at the eye. A magnifying device and a light source may be used.
Treatments
Most cases get better on their own and do not require treatment.
Complications
Preseptal Cellulitis
-
If you have a long term internal stye, it can become chalazion.
-
They develop if one of the glands in the eyes becomes blocked.
-
Warm compress can help relieve the symptoms but some rare cases require surgical removal.
-
If the infection spreads to the nearby tissues around the eye this can cause preseptal cellulitis.
-
It is the inflammation of the layers of skin around the eyes.
-
This can be treated with antibiotics.
Prevention
-
Recurrent stye may need to practice eyelid hygiene.
-
Regular eyelid scrubs to remove excess germs and cell debris should be used.
-
Gentle cleaning of the eyelid with soapy water with eyes closed.
-
Avoid using contaminated towels.
-
Avoid using cosmetics around the eyelids.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
-
What is the likely cause of my stye?
-
Is this contagious?
-
What kinds of tests do I need to get done?
-
Can I continue wearing contact lenses?
Nutrition
Foods to eat:
Vitamin A rich foods like milk, eggs, liver and fruits like papaya
Vitamin C rich foods like citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi and spinach
Vitamin E rich foods, like vegetable oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables and whole grains
Foods rich in zinc like sea food, spinach, nuts and whole grains
Foods to avoid:
Sugary and starchy foods
