Stye Eye Infection

Eye sty (or stye) is a tender, painful red colored bump located at the eyelash base or inside the eyelid.

Eye stye develops due to infection of the meibomian glands (oil glands of the eyelids) and clogged it. The cause of infection may be due to infected hair follicle in the eyelash. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria found on the skin are responsible for 95% of cases of eye styes. A sty can also develop as a complication of eyelid inflammation (blepharitis).

Two forms of Sty

• External hordeolum refers to a sty that develops at the base of an eyelash, that is hair follicle of the eyelid.
• Internal hordeolum refers to a sty that develops due to inflamed meibomian gland under the eyelid.

Eye sty may be confused with a chalazion - a cyst or a specific type of scarring due to inflammation of the meibomian glands of the eyelid, chalazion is usually painless.

Symptoms of a sty

• Eye redness,
• Tenderness,
• Pain in the affected area,
• Eye irritation or scratchy.

Later sty symptoms can include swelling, discomfort during blinking, eye watering, and light sensitivity. A common symptom of a sty is a small, yellowish spot in the bump that develops as pus expands in the area.

Risk factors for sty

People with diabetes, chronic blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), seborrhea, and chronic debilitating illnesses are having more chances to have styes than the general population. Stress seems to trigger the development of a sty; those who have high blood lipid levels are more susceptible to oil gland blockages, including those in the eyelid and thus more likely to develop a sty.

Eye sty treatment

Warm compress or warm washcloth to the affected area four to six times a day, can speed up the sty rupture and relief its symptoms. Sty should not be pressed / squeezed to facilitate drainage, since this can spread or worsen the infection. If a sty persists for long time, a doctor may lance to drain the infection under local anesthesia in their office. Antibiotic and/or steroid ointments are sometime prescribed to treat a sty. Persistent and multiple styes are treated with oral antibiotics. OTC pain medications may be used for pain. Contact lenses and eye makeup should be stop till total cure.

Sty complications

Sty rarely causes complications such as chalazion, a form of scarring of the eyelid glands and formation of cysts. Chalazia can be large enough to deform the eye cornea and affects the vision, and they may also cause a cosmetic problem.

Sty prevention

There is no known method to completely prevent sty, but being hygienic can help to prevent all forms of infection including sty.  Other things that can help prevent sty includes

• Never sharing cosmetics or eye makeup tools with others, 
• Keep eye tools clean and hygienic,
• Keep all cosmetics clean, and
• Never touch the eye and its surrounding areas.