5 Common Questions About Styes
5 Common Questions About Styes
By Angela G. Nannetti
Have you ever developed pain and swelling near your lash line or at the edge of your eyelid? Maybe you noticed a red bump or a pimple?
If this sounds familiar to you, it is likely you had a stye.
What is a stye?
"Our eyelids have oil glands, which play an important role in keeping our eyes healthy,” according to Swathi Reddy, MD, a board certified ophthalmologist at St. Jude Eye Care.
These glands regulate the moisture in our eyes and produce tears to flush out foreign particles. “When these small glands become clogged by the staphylococcal bacterium that exists naturally on our skin,” she explained, “an infection develops and the surrounding area becomes swollen, red, and tender.”
You may also notice a pus-filled pimple at the site of infection. If you have a stye, you may notice that the affected eye has become watery and more sensitive to the light. It is also common to feel a pinching pain, similar to the feeling you experience when an eyelash falls into your eye. This is called a “foreign body sensation”.
Are styes contagious?
No, styes are not contagious. “We all have staph bacteria on our skin and so it wouldn’t make sense to say that it could be passed from one person to another,” Dr. Reddy advised.
However, it is common for people who notice the characteristic swelling and redness of the eyelid to confuse the condition for a case of “pink eye” or conjunctivitis, which conversely is highly contagious. The most obvious visual difference between the two is that a stye only affects the eyelid, whereas pink eye extends beyond the eyelid, and causes the eye itself to become red and bloodshot.
Are styes preventable?
Yes. The best way to prevent a stye is to keep the area clean. “I always tell my patients that it is a good habit to remove makeup before going to bed and to wash the area around the eye with baby shampoo or another non-irritating soap on a daily basis,” Dr. Reddy explained. This helps to reduce the presence of staph bacteria and prevent crusts from forming.
As Dr. Reddy so aptly notes, there is hope for patients who suffer from recurring styes, as recent studies indicate that taking a daily Omega-3 Fish Oil supplement may optimize oil gland function and reduce the number of styes a patient ultimately develops.
How is a Stye treated?
Most styes will go away by themselves in a few days and do not require a doctor’s visit. To alleviate some of the discomfort and speed up the process however, Dr. Reddy recommends “using a hot compress on the area for ten minutes, 3-5 times a day”. If a stye does not resolve itself within a few weeks, do not attempt to pop it. An ophthalmologist can safely drain a stye for you in the office or prescribe an antibiotic.
Could it be something else?
Usually a stye is just a stye, but in some cases, there can be other factors at play. Blepharitis, which Dr. Reddy describes as “an inflammatory eye condition commonly associated with ocular rosacea and dry eyes, can also be caused by Demodex mite colonies that thrive on dead skin.” Fortunately, blepharitis can also be treated at home with hot compresses and daily cleansing. If you are concerned your stye could be something more serious, it is always advisable to visit an ophthalmologist.