A stye is a common eye condition that appears as a painful, red lump on the eyelid, often resembling a small boil or pimple. Understanding the characteristics and distinctions between different types of styes is helpful for appropriate management. This article clarifies what styes are and how their variations differ.
Understanding What a Stye Is
A stye, medically known as a hordeolum, is an acute bacterial infection affecting the small oil glands or hair follicles within the eyelid. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is commonly responsible for these infections, accounting for about 90-95% of cases.
The primary symptoms of a stye include a red, painful lump, localized swelling of the eyelid, and tenderness to the touch. Other symptoms can involve excessive tearing, a scratchy sensation in the eye, and crusting along the eyelid margins. Styes develop when these tiny glands become blocked by dead skin, dirt, or oil, creating an environment where bacteria can multiply.
The Main Types of Styes
Styes are categorized into two primary types based on their location and the specific glands they affect: external hordeola and internal hordeola. Understanding these distinctions helps in recognizing their presentation and potential progression.
An external hordeolum forms along the eyelash line and is the more common type. This condition results from an infection of the Zeis glands, which are sebaceous glands located at the base of the eyelash follicles, or sometimes the Moll glands, which are modified sweat glands in the same area. External styes typically appear as small, red, and painful bumps on the outer edge of the eyelid and may develop a yellowish pustule or “whitehead” as pus forms.
An internal hordeolum develops deeper within the eyelid, involving the meibomian glands. These glands, numbering about 20 to 30 in the lower lid and 40 to 50 in the upper lid, produce an oily substance called meibum that helps stabilize the tear film and prevent tear evaporation. An internal stye often presents as a larger, more painful lump with more widespread eyelid swelling, and it may be less visible from the outside compared to an external stye. They can also last longer than external styes.
It is important to differentiate a stye from a chalazion, a condition frequently confused with styes. A chalazion is a painless, non-infectious lump that forms due to a chronic blockage of a meibomian gland, without a bacterial infection. Unlike a stye, a chalazion usually develops gradually, is not painful, and is not tender to the touch. A chalazion can sometimes develop after a stye has healed, as a result of persistent inflammation and blockage.
When to Seek Medical Care
While many styes resolve on their own within a week or two with home care practices like warm compresses, certain signs indicate the need for professional medical attention. Warm compresses applied for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day can help the stye drain and relieve discomfort. However, do not attempt to squeeze or pop a stye, as this can spread the infection.
Consulting a doctor is advisable if the stye does not show improvement after 48 hours or if it worsens. Seek medical care if:
- The redness and swelling extend beyond the eyelid to other parts of the face, such as the cheek.
- There is increased pain or swelling.
- Blisters develop on the eyelid.
- The eyelid feels hot to the touch.
- You experience vision changes.
- You have recurrent styes or styes affecting both eyes.
A doctor might prescribe antibiotic eyedrops or oral antibiotics for persistent infections, or, in some cases, perform a minor procedure to drain the stye.