By Dr Neeraj Jain, MBBS, MD (Ophthal), DNB, MNAMS
What is a stye?
A stye is a painful red bump located at the base of an eyelash or under or inside the eyelid. The medical term for a stye is hordeolum.
A stye results from an acute infection of the oil glands of the eyelid (meibomian glands) that occur after these glands have become clogged. A stye also may arise from an infected hair follicle at the base of an eyelash.
What are the signs and symptoms of a stye?
A stye has various symptoms such as:
● swelling in a small area or over the entire eyelid.
● redness of the eyelid itself.
● discomfort when blinking.
● frequent watering in the affected eye.
● raised, swollen bump on the upper or lower eyelid.
● pain and itch over the affected area.
A common sign of a stye is a small, yellow spot at the centre of the bump that develops as pus expands in the area.
Who is most susceptible to styes?
Styes are quite common. People of all ages can develop a stye, with males and females being equally affected. People with chronic eye conditions like allergic conjunctivitis, lice infestation, etc, and people with diseases like diabetes mellitus and major illnesses are more prone to develop a stye. In many susceptible people, stress seems to trigger the development of a stye. Studies have shown that those who have high levels of blood cholesterol are more susceptible to blockages in the oil glands and suffer from recurrent styes.
What is the treatment for a stye?
There are hundreds of home remedies in circulation for the stye. Most of the patients must have used one or the other remedy before they consult me. Some of them are simple (such as hot compresses) and some are really dangerous (applying Limacol). I would request everyone to use their commonsense before applying anything to the eye.
Application of a warm compress or warm washcloth to the affected area for 10 minutes, four to six times a day, can speed drainage of the stye, and aid in the relief of symptoms. Antibiotic eye drops along with warm compresses is a routine treatment for small and early styes.
A stye should not be pressed or squeezed to facilitate drainage until it has an opening on the surface. If a stye persists for several days, it requires surgical drainage. This can be performed under local anaesthesia.
Systemic (oral) antibiotics are recommended for persistent or multiple styes. It is also advised for large and non responding styes from previous treatment. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to control the pain.
Contact lenses and eye make-up should never be used when a stye is present.
Are there any potential complications resulting from a stye?
Complications from a stye are rare. A stye is a small localized infection which may heal without any problem with treatment. Sometimes the infection may spread over to other eyelash follicles, leading to multiple styes. Occasionally when the infective organism is very notorious, it may lead to widespread infection resulting in cellulitis.
Can a stye be prevented?
While it is impossible to completely prevent the development of a stye, good hygienic practices, including proper hand-washing and resisting the frequent touching of your eye can reduce the frequency. Other measures that can help to prevent a stye are as follows:
– Do not share your eye make-up with anyone else.
– Do not use a very old make-up kit; it may be contaminated.
– Always keep your make-up kits in clean and closed places.
– Do not rub your eyes.
– Do not use old eye drops. There is an increased risk of contamination.
