A sty is an infection of the sebaceous or sweat glands in the eyelid, caused by bacteria, leading to symptoms such as a lump on the eyelid, swelling, redness, itching, excessive tearing, pain or discomfort.
This condition, also known as hordeolum, can be caused by the increased viscosity of the oil produced by these glands to lubricate the eyes, but some conditions can also increase the risk of its development, such as seborrhea, high cholesterol or chronic blepharitis, for example.
In most cases, the stye in the eye disappears on its own after 2 to 5 days, with the application of warm compresses to the area. However, when it does not disappear after 8 days, even with compresses, you should consult an ophthalmologist so that the most appropriate treatment can be evaluated and indicated.
Stye symptoms
The main symptoms of a stye in the eye are:
- Ball or lump on the upper or lower eyelid;
- Lump with a small yellow dot in the center
- Redness at the site;
- Swelling in the eyelid;
- Itching in the area;
- Increase in temperature in the region;
- Sensation of specks in the eye;
- Pain or discomfort, especially when blinking;
- Increased sensitivity to light;
- Excessive tearing of the affected eye.
Furthermore, visual impairment may occur due to pressure on the cornea if the stye is very large.
The stye normally disappears on its own after a few days, however, if it is persistent, it is also possible that there has been inflammation in the glands that are present near the roots of the eyelashes, and it is important to consult an ophthalmologist so that the most appropriate treatment can be diagnosed and indicated. adequate.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of a stye is made by an ophthalmologist through the evaluation of symptoms, health history, foreign body entry into the eye or trauma, in addition to a physical examination evaluating the characteristics of the lesion on the eyelid, such as size and location, as well as onset and how long the symptoms have been present.
Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist in the region closest to you:
Therefore, the doctor may need to invert the affected eyelid, to confirm the diagnosis, as the stye affects the outer part of the eyelid, and thus rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms, such as chalazion, cellulitis in the eye or cancer.
If the doctor suspects cancer, a biopsy of the lesion on the eyelid may be requested to be analyzed in the laboratory. Find out how a skin biopsy is performed.
What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion?
Both stye and chalazion occur due to inflammation in glands present in the eyelids.
However, the stye is caused by a bacterial infection in the sebaceous and sweat glands, such as the Zeis or Moll glands, affecting the external part of the eyelid, the eyelash line, and in some cases, the internal part, being called internal stye.
Chalazion appears due to an inflammation of the meibomian glands, responsible for maintaining moisture in the eye, located on the inner part of the eyelid, and is not caused by infections, but by the blockage of these glands, leading to the appearance of a lump on the inner surface. of the eyelids. Learn more about chalazion and how to identify it.
Possible causes
Styes occur mainly due to infection by microorganisms, most often bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, which promote local inflammation and lead to the appearance of symptoms.
Some factors can contribute to the appearance of a stye, such as:
In addition, infection of the Zeiss or Moll glands can occur due to wearing contact lenses that are not properly disinfected, sleeping with makeup on your eyes, using makeup that has expired, or touching your eyes with dirty hands, for example. .
Is stye contagious?
Although it occurs due to bacterial infection, the stye is not contagious, as it is caused by bacteria that normally live on the skin. Understand better how to get stye.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment for styes must be carried out under the guidance of an ophthalmologist, who may recommend some home measures or the use of medications for styes.
The main ways to cure a stye are:
1. Warm compresses
Applying warm compresses to the affected eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day, may be recommended by your doctor to help reduce inflammation, reduce pain and discomfort, and facilitate the drainage of pus.
The stye generally calms down or drains on its own in about 5 days, and does not usually last more than 1 week, with signs of improvement being a reduction in swelling, pain and redness.
2. Stye medicine
In some cases, the stye may last longer and the infection may worsen, and the doctor may recommend the use of antibiotics in the form of eye drops or ophthalmic ointments.
Furthermore, in more serious cases, the use of oral antibiotics may be recommended.
3. Draining the stye
In cases of a very large sty, the doctor may also drain the pus from the lump on the eyelid.
Read too: How to treat a stye in a baby
Self-care for stye
The main self-care options for stye are:
- Clean the area around the eyes, and do not let too much secretion accumulate;
- Lightly massage the eyelid to help drain the gland;
- Clean the affected eyelid with saline solution, using sterile gauze, which must be changed after each cleaning;
- Do not touch the area too much, as this may worsen the inflammation;
- Do not use makeup or contact lenses, to avoid spreading the lesion, making it bigger, and not making it last longer.
Furthermore, it is important not to squeeze the lump from the eyelid, as this can spread the infection to other parts of the eye and make treatment longer.
Read too: 5 best home remedies for stye
Does stye have a cure?
Styes can be cured when self-care and treatment recommended by an ophthalmologist are followed.
When to go to the doctor
It is important to consult an ophthalmologist in the following situations:
- Very red and irritated eyes;
- Change in vision;
- Symptoms do not disappear within 7 days;
- When the inflammation spreads across the face, leading to the appearance of a red, hot and painful area.
After evaluation, the doctor may prescribe an ointment or eye drops with antibiotics and, in some cases, it is even necessary to use oral antibiotics. There are also a few more serious cases in which minor surgery may be necessary to drain the pus from the stye.
