Sty
(Redirected from Sties)
Stye (also known as a hordeolum) is a common eye disorder characterized by a small, painful lump on the inside or outside of the eyelid. It is an infection of the oil glands in the eyelid, most often caused by bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. Styes can affect anyone at any age, but they are particularly common in people who have conditions that increase the likelihood of eyelid oil gland blockage, such as blepharitis, acne, or rosacea.
Causes and Risk Factors[edit | edit source]
A stye develops due to a bacterial infection within the oil glands in the eyelid. The primary risk factors include:
- Poor hygiene, such as not washing hands before touching the eyes
- Use of old or contaminated makeup
- Chronic eyelid inflammation (blepharitis)
- Other skin conditions, such as acne or rosacea
- Stress and hormonal changes
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
The main symptoms of a stye include:
- A red, swollen lump on the eyelid
- Pain and tenderness in the affected area
- Eyelid swelling
- Tearing of the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- A feeling of a foreign body in the eye
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for a stye typically involves home remedies and self-care measures, such as:
- Applying warm compresses to the affected eyelid several times a day
- Keeping the eyelid clean and avoiding the use of makeup or contact lenses until the stye heals
- Gently massaging the eyelid to promote drainage, once the stye starts to heal
In cases where the stye does not improve with home treatment, or if it recurs frequently, medical intervention may be necessary. This can include:
- Antibiotic ointments or drops prescribed by a healthcare provider
- Steroid injections to reduce swelling
- Surgical drainage, in rare cases where the stye does not resolve on its own
Prevention[edit | edit source]
Preventive measures for styes focus on maintaining good eyelid hygiene. Recommendations include:
- Washing hands thoroughly before touching the eyes
- Removing makeup before going to bed
- Cleaning the eyelids with a gentle cleanser
- Avoiding the use of expired or contaminated eye makeup
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Blepharitis
- Chalazion, a similar condition often confused with styes
- Eye infections
- Eyelid disorders
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD