Eye Stye Treatment (Pictures)

Alternative names :- Sty, External hordeolum, Stye, hordeolum

A eye stye (also spelled "sty") develops when a gland at the edge of the eyelid becomes infected. Resembling a pimple on the eyelid, a stye can grow on the inside or outside of the lid. Styes are not harmful to vision, and they can occur at any age.

Styes may be red and sore, but they generally do not cause any damage to the eye or eyelids. Most clear up within a few days, even if no treatment is received. However, the infection from one stye can sometimes spread and cause more styes. Rarely, the entire eyelid may become infected. This requires medical treatment, including antibiotics. Some people seem to get many styes, while others get few or none at all.

Causes Eye stye is caused by infection of oil secreting glands and infection of staphylococcal bacteria at the base of eyelid or eyelashes. Eating boiled potatoes, white bread, pudding and confectionery are other causes of eye stye. Sometimes, it can be developing by rubbing the eye with contaminated hand. Stye may cause by using mascara, eyeliner or other eye products can irritate the eye. If the products are contaminated with bacteria, an infection may develop.

Signs and Symptoms

• A painful, red and tender lump develops on the eyelid.
• Swelling of a certain area which usually appears as a bump
• The surface over the stye may break, releasing the pus, or the swelling may go away without bursting, when the body's immune system is able to control the infection.
• You may notice frequent watering in the affected eye, a feeling like something is in the eye or increased light sensitivity.
• Discomfort when blinking.
• Your eye may feel gritty.

Diagnostic tests

Patients often request an examination after an episode of pain and swelling of the lid.  The doctor can make the diagnosis during a simple examination of the eyelids. 

Home remedies for the treatment of eye stye

• Most styes heal within a few days on their own or with warm water compresses. Hold a clean washcloth soaked in hot water against the closed lid for 5 to 10 minutes, 4 to 5 times a day. Repeatedly soak the washcloth in hot water to maintain adequate heat.
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric in 2 cups of water until it reduces in half. Cool and strain 4-5 times through a fine muslin. Apply as eye drops 3-4 times a day.
• Application of prescribed antibiotic drops may also be used to help fight the infection.
• Antibiotic creams may help recurrent or persistent styes.
• Guava leaves, warmed and placed on a warm damp cloth, and then used as a compress, reduce the redness, pain and swelling.
• Surgical drainage of the stye may also be necessary if the stye is not responding to treatment

Prevention

Suggestions to prevent the spread of infection include:

• Dispose of a used 'compress' in a rubbish bin, so that others do not have to handle it.
• Wear protective eye goggles when swimming.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• DO NOT attempt to squeeze a stye or any other type of eyelid bump. Let it drain on its own.
• Your eye make-up may have germs in it which may have caused the stye. Do not wear eye make-up while you have a stye. Throw away eye make-up and brushes used to apply the make-up. Use new eye make-up after the stye has gone away. Do not share eye make-up with others.