A stye, medically known as a hordeolum, is a common and typically temporary bacterial infection or inflammation affecting the oil glands or hair follicles of the eyelid. While often causing discomfort, a stye usually resolves without intervention. Understanding styes and their potential impact on vision can help manage concerns.
What is a Stye?
A stye develops as an infection within the eyelid’s sebaceous glands, frequently caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. These glands, located along the eyelid margins, produce oils essential for lubricating the eye’s surface. When a gland or eyelash follicle becomes blocked and infected, a stye forms.
A stye appears as a red, tender bump resembling a pimple on the eyelid. Initial symptoms include localized pain, swelling, and redness. Styes can be external, originating from an eyelash follicle, or internal, involving an oil gland within the eyelid. Internal styes are often more painful due to pressure within the eyelid.
Styes and Vision Impairment
A stye generally does not directly cause blurry vision by affecting the eye’s internal structures or its ability to focus. However, it can indirectly lead to a temporary sensation of blurry or obstructed vision. This temporary effect usually disappears once the stye heals.
Vision can be affected through physical obstruction. A large stye, especially if located centrally on the eyelid, can block a portion of the visual field. Swelling associated with a stye can also put slight pressure on the eyeball, potentially causing minor, fleeting vision distortion. Excessive tearing or discharge from the affected eye can temporarily blur vision. If stye ointment is used, it can also temporarily blur vision as it spreads across the eye’s surface, interfering with the tear film.
Managing a Stye
Self-care measures are often effective in promoting stye healing. The primary approach involves applying warm compresses to the affected eyelid. This should be done several times daily, typically for 10 to 15 minutes, to help the stye drain.
To apply a warm compress, dampen a clean washcloth with warm water, ensuring it is warm but not excessively hot, then wring out the excess. Place the warm cloth gently over the closed eyelid. Avoid squeezing or attempting to pop the stye, as this can spread infection deeper into the tissue and worsen the condition.
Maintaining good hygiene is also beneficial, including washing hands thoroughly, avoiding touching eyes, and temporarily refraining from eye makeup or contact lenses until the stye resolves. Styes typically resolve within one to two weeks with consistent home care.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While most styes improve with home treatment, certain signs indicate the need for professional medical evaluation. If a stye does not show improvement after several days of home treatment, typically within one to two weeks, consult a healthcare provider. Medical attention is also warranted if the stye worsens, becomes very painful, or if swelling extends beyond the eyelid to other facial areas.
Other concerning symptoms include significant or persistent changes in vision, such as severe blurring that does not clear, or if the stye is bleeding or producing excessive crusting. Recurrent styes, or a stye accompanied by fever or chills, also signal the need for a medical assessment. A healthcare provider can then determine if further treatment, such as antibiotics or drainage, is necessary.