Stye

Although the appearance of a stye can be unsightly at times, it is usually harmless. A stye is a small bump that somtimes appear on the outside or inside of the eyelid. A stye is also referred to as a hordeolum.

A stye develops from an eyelash follicle or an eyelid oil gland that becomes clogged from excess oil, debris or bacteria. Styes can be a complication of blepharitis but also seem to be brought on by stress.

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If you have a stye, you may be suffering from watery eyes, pain, tenderness, itching, or redness. Your eye may feel bruised and sensitive to light. You may also notice a reddish bump on your eyelid.

In your stye is severe, you may develop an internal hordeolum. Pus will build up in the center of the stye, causing a yellowish spot that looks similar to a pimple. If the stye is painful, it will feel better once it ruptures and the pus drains.

Clogged eyelid glands seem to be one cause of styes. If you suffer from chronic blepharitis, bacteria may often build up and infect the glands, making you prone to developing styes. Eye makeup sometimes causes styes, especially if you share makeup with others. Also, wearing too much eye makeup can sometimes cause a stye to develop. Some people notice the development of a stye during times of stress.

How To Avoid a Stye

Styes tend to linger longer than most people woud like. The following steps might speed up healing time.

• Warm compress:
  Lightly press a warm washcloth against your eyelid for 10 minutes. Try this up to 4 times a day.

• Massage:
  Gently massage the affected area.

• Apply eye drops:
  Medicated eye drops or antibiotic ointments may help cure the infection. Your eye doctor will be able to tell which is best in your situation.

The longer a stye hangs around, the more likely it is to turn into a chalazion. A chalazion is a blocked oil gland that has become infected. A chalazion usually causes pain and inflammation, as well as a hard lump or bump on the eyelid. Your eye doctor may suggest lancing the chalazion for draining, and possibly a steroid injection to reduce swelling.

1. While you may have a strong urge to squeeze or pop a stye, it's probably best to allow the stye to drain on its own. Squeezing the stye may cause a severe eye infection.
2. See your doctor if you have a stye for longer than even though you are applying warm compresses.
3. To prevent the possibility of infection, avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses until the stye completely heals.

_{Source: University of Virginia Health System. Hordeolum (Stye), 12 Feb 2004.}