Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of Eye StyesHow Styes SpreadTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Eye Styes
How Styes Spread
Treatment
Prevention
A stye (also called ahordeolum) can cause itchy and watery eyes,blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and the feeling that you have something in your eye.Typically, though, a stye is not medically serious and can be easily managed.
This article explains how styes spread and how they can be treated and prevented.
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Eye styes are considered either internal or external. With an internal stye, the pimple-like bump is on the inside of the eyelid. You may feel it rubbing on the inside of your eye. This type of stye can be due to infection or blockage in one of the oil-producingsebaceousglands in the eyelid.
An external stye often starts with an infected hair follicle in your eyelashes. You may be more at risk of eye styes if you:
You also may be more likely to develop an eye stye if you are diagnosed with health conditions that includerosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, ordiabetes.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
This is usually just a local infection that does not spread to others. However, some people are more prone to developing a stye.
Hygiene can help to prevent spread. If you squeeze the stye, you can cause the infection to spread to areas next to the stye. You should frequently wash your hands. Also, if you use warm compresses for relief, they should be thrown out after use.
Chalazion or Stye?While a stye often resolves on its own, it can also become chronic. It can eventually turn into a painless cyst known as achalazion.This tends to form if an internal stye doesn’t drain properly. It may be difficult to tell if you have a stye or a chalazion, but if you have a hard lump inside the eyelid, it’s probably a chalazion.
Chalazion or Stye?
While a stye often resolves on its own, it can also become chronic. It can eventually turn into a painless cyst known as achalazion.This tends to form if an internal stye doesn’t drain properly. It may be difficult to tell if you have a stye or a chalazion, but if you have a hard lump inside the eyelid, it’s probably a chalazion.
What Are the Differences Between Chalazion and a Stye?
One way to ensure that a stye doesn’t recur or spread is to focus on clearing it up promptly. There are a variety of possible treatments.
Home Remedies
While styes often go away on their own, there are also some easy remedies to try. You may want to:
You also can try to gently massage your affected lid.
Medical Intervention
If the stye doesn’tgo away on its own within a week, consult a healthcare provider. Your practitioner can accurately diagnose the condition and begin treatment. They may:
Also, to ensure the stye goes away promptly, be sure to avoid popping it on your own. For one thing, this may be a chalazion instead of a stye. Also, you may inadvertently squeeze the infection into the surrounding tissue, spreading it.
There’s also a lot you can do tokeep a stye at bay. To prevent a stye, try the following:
Summary
A stye is typically not serious, and it’s not contagious. A stye is a small, pimple-like bump on the inside edge of the eyelid, or on the outside where an eyelash hair has become infected. Symptoms include pain and discomfort, itching, light sensitivity, and blurry vision.
It will go away on its own but if a stye seems to be lingering or spreading, be sure to bring this to your healthcare provider’s attention. Your symptoms may need an accurate diagnosis (they may be due to another cause) and treatment.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Causes, symptoms, treatment.National Health Service.Stye.Department of Health, Victoria State Government.Styes.American Optometric Association.Hordeolum (stye).Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K.Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jan 9;1(1):CD007742. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4University of Michigan Medicine,Styes and chalazia,
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Causes, symptoms, treatment.National Health Service.Stye.Department of Health, Victoria State Government.Styes.American Optometric Association.Hordeolum (stye).Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K.Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jan 9;1(1):CD007742. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4University of Michigan Medicine,Styes and chalazia,
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Causes, symptoms, treatment.National Health Service.Stye.Department of Health, Victoria State Government.Styes.American Optometric Association.Hordeolum (stye).Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K.Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jan 9;1(1):CD007742. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4University of Michigan Medicine,Styes and chalazia,
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Causes, symptoms, treatment.
National Health Service.Stye.
Department of Health, Victoria State Government.Styes.
American Optometric Association.Hordeolum (stye).
Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K.Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jan 9;1(1):CD007742. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4
University of Michigan Medicine,Styes and chalazia,
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