Overview
One fine day you woke up and see a red lump near your eyelid. Thinking that it’s a pimple you start poking it, don’t do that. It’s not a pimple; it’s a sty which looks like a pimple. People often get confused with sty as they are also filled with pus.
It can occur anywhere on eyes like on inner eyelid or outer but usually it happens on outer part. It takes couple of days to go on its own. It usually causes not too much of pain but yes it cause a little discomfort. Wash your eyelid with a warm cloth daily to get some pain relief
Symptoms Of Stye
Contents
It is very important for one to know the symptoms of stye so that one can go for an early treatment. Identifying a stye is very easy as its symptoms are very clear. Painful red swelling eye is the very first sign which confirms that you have a stye on eyelid. In most cases, it resembles to a pimple.
Usually stye affects only one eye however in very rare case both of your eyes will get affected by stye. Moreover, more than one stye can occur on the same eye or in both. Don’t worry; they can be easily treated if they don’t go on their own.
Few symptoms of stye include:
- Swelling eyelid
- Lump on eyelid
- Pain
- Burning sensation
- Tenderness
- Crusting on eyelid’s margins
- Droopiness
- Tearing
- Sensitivity towards light
- Discomfort when blinking
- Feeling of presence of an object in your eye
If you see any of the above symptoms on your eye then you got a stye. Aforementioned that it go on its own however if it still persists for more than a week then consult to doctor. You may face some vision problems if effective treatment is not done. Vision problems may arise when stye becomes extremely painful or start bleeding. it may spread to other areas of your eyelid or face.
Don’t panic in such condtions, immediately go to a doctor and take early treatment.
However, there are two categories of stye and treatment is done after identifying it. External hordeolum and internal hordeolum are the two general categories.
- External horedeolum– it occurs along the outer edge. A yellowish pimple with pus is seen on the eyelid which is painful when touched. External stye is cause usually by an infection in eyelash follicle, apocrine gland or in sebaceous gland.
- Internal handeolum– it happens inside the eyelid and is more painful than external handeolum. If your meibomian gland is infected then you will suffer from an internal stye. The meibomian gland covers the eye by producing a secretion. When affected by internal stye, one may experience crusting on margins of eyelid, burning sensation, itchiness on eyeball, droopiness and light sensitivity.
Best Treatments for Styes
Stye usually needs no treatment and it improves rapidly immediately after they rupture. However, one can ease it symptoms through a warm compress against the affected eye. Hold the warm compress for 5 to 10 minutes for more than twice a day. The compress will drain the pus to go away and reduces symptoms. However, check the temperature before applying the warm washcloth on children affected with stye. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are also effective in treating stye.
In case of external stye, it is recommended to consult a doctor. The eyelash near to the stye will be removed and with a use of thin needle the pus will be drained away. Don’t perform it at home, let the professionals do that. In worst conditions it is advice to refer an ophthalmologist.
Doctors will prescribe you an antibiotic eye drop or cream to treat the infection spread around the eyelid. However, don’t apply lotions, eye makeup or contact lenses during the treatment.
Stye complications
Complications in stye are rare and they may occur in few cases where infection heavily damages the affected areas of eyes. However, if there is some complications then it will include:
- Meibomian cyst– it is a small gland cyst. The gland discharges sebum, a lubricant, in the eyelid’s edge. When the gland is obstructed then meibomian cyst occurs. It is easy to treat this type of complication.
- Periorbital cellulitis or preseptal– if the tissue of eyes are affected from infection then this type of complication can occur. Inflammation and redness will occur around the skin of eye making the eyelids swollen. Antibiotics are effective in treating such type of complication.
Complications are very rare to occur and if they do then minimal intervention can treat them effectively.
Best Natural Remedies for Styes
styes are not a cause of serious concern if the infection is less severe and they are easily treatable at home using few natural remedies. Few best natural home remedies are effective in getting rid of the stye. Here are some of the best remedies to treat stye.
- Clean it properly– use a mild soap and water to clean your eyelid. Use warm water and not hot water as it can make the condition worse. Using a soft cloth gently wipe off the eyelid. Do it daily to reduce the swollen eyelids.
- A warm tea bag– a tea bag can be used instead of warm cloth compress. Use a black tea bag as it has antibacterial properties that also help in reducing swelling. Drop a tea bag in boiling water for a minute. Let the tea bag cool down and then place it over your eye. Keep it there for 5-10 minutes. Remember to use a different tea bag for other eye.
- Antibiotic ointments– apply the ointments by pulling your eyelid. Do it carefully and use only a quarter inch of it. Don’t use topical steroids as they can cause side effects. Properly check the ointment and make sure that it can be used on or in the eye. Eye drops also work best here.
Other remedies include massaging to promote drainage. Stye is not contagious and they go easily with these simple remedies.
