Overview of Eye Stye

Eye Stye is the medical term used to describe a situation when the edge of your eyelid is infected by bacteria, and it affects the hair follicle of an eyelash. It takes the form of a pimple or a boil. As a result of this infection, the hair follicles will get blocked and inflamed, and then itching, pain and discomfort start to set in. The symptoms of itching and discomfort are fundamental to the spread of this infection. As patients – consciously or otherwise – rub against the affected area for immediate relief of their constant discomfort, bacteria spread from one hair shaft to another.An eye stye usually needs 3 to 7 days to develop into a full blown infection. It is true that the swollen eyelid can cause blocked vision, but an eye stye generally does not impede vision. Pain, inflamed eye or eyelid, light sensitivity, difficulty in blinking, blurred vision and reddened eye are some of the early symptoms of eye stye patients. In some cases, tearing of the eyelid has also been reported. The sequence of events can be summed up as follows:

• it starts with a small pimple,
• the pimple will get filled with pus, and a correspondingly build up of pressure, and
• finally it bursts and the affected eyelid recovers when the infection is drained off.

With the relief of the pressure, pain and inflammation will subsequently subside.

Causes of Eye Stye

While the medical field is still debating on the exact cause of a stye, it is generally believed that it can develop as follows:

• When we reach out to rub our eyes, we may inadvertently bring the bacteria from our hands into contact with the areas surrounding the eyes.
• Eye products that we use, for example mascara and eye-liner, could have been contaminated, thus speeding up bacteria transmission.
• It could also be due to the clogged pores of our oil glands as blocked pores are not be able to drain easily, thus leading to swelling.

Symptoms of Eye Styes

• Pain in the eye or eyelid.
• Affected area also becomes sensitive to touch.
• Sensitivity and aversion to light.
• Irritation when blinking.
• Tearing of the eye.
• Reddened eyes, usually accompanied by tenderness and slight pain.
• Inflammation and abscess.
• Blocked vision.

Eye Styes Treatment

The following describes some options on how to get rid of a stye on your eyelid:

• Warm compress placed directly on top of the affected eye. Place the warm press for a few minutes and keep repeating this cycle 3 to 4 times every day.
• Seek out prescribed antibiotic drops to deal with the infection.
• In rare cases, treatment can offer no relief. If so, surgical intervention may be necessary to facilitate drainage.

Prevention Tips for Eye Styes

The following preventative measures have been found to be effective:

• Never rub the sore eye as what you will be doing is simply transferring more bacteria from your hands to the affected area.
• Do not prick the stye like you do a pimple or boil.
• Let the stye burst naturally. Never use force.
• Force applied onto any stye may inadvertently force the bacteria into our blood stream.
• Ensure hand hygiene at all times, especially just before you attend to the area around your eye. Only use a clean cloth or tissues.

Do not make it a habit to share eye products, towels or even face cloths. At the end of the day, a stye is a result of infection and infection does spread. Pay special attention to cleanliness when you handle your contact lenses.

Tags: eye sty, eye stye, remedies for eye stye
Filed under: General