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Styes Causes and Risks:
Styes are an infection of the eyelash follicle caused by bacteria. A sore similar to a pimple or a boil forms at the edge of the eyelid. More than 1 stye can occur at one time because the bacteria may spread to another follicle. Styes usually develop within a day or 2 and eventually fill with pus then drain spontaneously. A lump that forms on the eyelid may be a stye or a chalazion .
Prevention:
Wash hands thoroughly after touching or treating boils , acne , or skin infections and before touching the skin around the eye.
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
Diagnosis is based upon the appearance of the eyelid.
Treatment:
Styes can be treated by applying warm compresses for 10 minutes, 4 times a day. Do not attempt to squeeze the stye; let it burst on its own.
Antibiotic creams are sometimes used for recurrent or persistent styes (caused by bacteria). Occasionally styes require lancing to drain the infection.
Prognosis:
Styes often resolve on their own or they may recur. The outcome is excellent with treatment.
Complications:
- recurrence of stye
- spread of infection to other eyelash follicles
- spread of infection to the tissue of the eyelid
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if lumps on the eyelid continue to enlarge or do not resolve spontaneously within a week or two.
This is an illustration of a cross-section and frontal view of the eye.
A stye is a relatively common infection. Styes are often caused by staphylococcus and occur in the glands that open onto the lid margin. They are red, swollen, and painful.
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