Styes are common red bumps on the eyelid. Most styes are not permanent and typically resolve on their own. Understanding these common eye conditions can alleviate apprehension.
Understanding Styes
A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a painful, red, pimple-like bump that forms on the edge of the eyelid. It develops when a tiny oil gland or hair follicle on the eyelid becomes blocked and subsequently infected by bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium responsible for most of these infections.
Styes can appear near the eyelashes (external stye) or deeper inside the eyelid (internal stye). Symptoms commonly include localized redness, swelling, and tenderness of the eyelid, sometimes accompanied by a yellowish pus spot. Other signs may include tearing, light sensitivity, or a feeling that something is in the eye.
Stye Duration and Resolution
After forming, a stye typically comes to a head, drains, and then heals as the body’s immune system clears the infection. This process usually takes a few days, with most styes resolving completely within one to two weeks.
While a stye can be uncomfortable, many resolve without medical intervention. Applying warm compresses can help accelerate healing by encouraging the stye to drain more quickly. The discomfort typically subsides once the stye begins to drain.
When Styes Persist or Recur
While a stye itself is not a permanent fixture, a persistent lump on the eyelid might actually be a chalazion. A chalazion is a non-infectious, swollen bump that forms when an oil gland in the eyelid becomes completely blocked. Unlike a stye, which is typically painful and caused by bacterial infection, a chalazion is usually painless and results from inflammation rather than active infection. A chalazion can develop after a stye has healed if the inflammation does not fully resolve, or it can form independently.
Other reasons for a stye’s apparent persistence include incomplete drainage of the initial infection. Additionally, some individuals experience recurrent styes. This can be linked to underlying conditions such as blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margins) or rosacea, a skin condition that can affect the eyes. A weakened immune system can also increase susceptibility to recurrent styes. If a lump on the eyelid does not improve after one to two weeks, remains painful, affects vision, or if styes recur frequently, consult an eye care provider.
Managing Styes and Preventing Recurrence
Managing an active stye involves simple home care. Applying a warm, moist compress to the affected eyelid for 5 to 10 minutes, three to five times daily, can help promote drainage and reduce swelling. Avoid touching or squeezing the stye, as this can spread bacteria or worsen the infection. During an active stye, avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses until the stye has fully healed.
Preventing future styes largely depends on maintaining good eyelid hygiene. This includes washing hands thoroughly before touching the eyes and regularly cleaning the eyelids, perhaps with a diluted baby shampoo solution or specialized eyelid wipes. Discarding old or contaminated eye makeup every two to three months and properly caring for contact lenses can also minimize risk. Addressing any underlying conditions like blepharitis or rosacea with appropriate medical management can further reduce the likelihood of recurrent styes.