09 Jan What Causes Styes In Eyes?
Have you ever noticed a red, tender bump near the edge of your eyelid that feels uncomfortable or even painful? This common issue, known as a stye or a chalazion, can be both frustrating and worrisome. In this blog, we’ll explore the common causes of styes in eyes and simple steps you can take to prevent them. Understanding what triggers styes can help you keep your eyes healthy and free from irritation!
What Is A Stye?
A stye, or chalazion, is a red, sore lump that develops on the edge of the eyelid. It develops when a small oil-producing gland in your eyelash follicle or eyelid margin gets clogged. This sheathing creates an environment for the bacteria to multiply, which causes the swelling and irritation. Infected styes, also known as hordeola, are typically filled with pus and can be tender or painful to the touch. Although styes can be alarming due to their appearance, most styes pose no permanent threat to your eyesight. They almost never affect your visual acuity. In most cases, styes clear up on their own after one to two weeks.
Types Of Styes
There are two main types of styes, and they vary according to their place of appearance. The first type, external styes, are the most common, making up about 80% of cases. These form on the outside of the eyelid and usually look like a pimple. They often form at the base of an eyelash and if infected, can be extremely red and swollen.
The second type are internal styes, which form on the inner surface of the eyelid. These are harder to see but can be more painful because of their position. Both are the outcome of the same process of blocked glands and bacterial infection.
Symptoms Of A Stye
The first sign of a stye is usually a painful bump on the eyelid. This bump can be painful to the touch, causing the entire eyelid to feel sore. Redness is one of the most common, identifiable signs of a hordeolum, usually paired with a feeling of warmth around the affected area.
Another symptom is noticing your eyelid is swollen. At times, the whole eyelid can be swollen, making it look puffy. Pain is the most common symptom accompanying an infected stye. It can range from a slight irritation to severe pain, especially on blinking or when you touch the outside of the eyelid.
A hordeolum might also produce a burning, itching feeling, as if you had a little something in your eye. This may cause you to tear up more often and become sensitive to bright lights. This sensitivity may leave you constantly squinting or steering clear of bright sunlight.
What Causes Styes In Eyes?
- Bacterial Infections
Hordeola are primarily associated with bacterial infection, with approximately 80% of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria usually live harmlessly on our skin. While they’re mostly harmless, it’s when they enter the oil-producing glands found in our eyelids that they start to become a nuisance.
These meibomian glands, which help prevent dry eyes by making an oily lubricating film, can get clogged up and infected. When this happens, a hordeolum develops, sometimes full of pus. These infections are relatively prevalent and can occur in anyone. With them come intense discomfort, usually accompanied by redness, swelling, and tenderness in the affected area.
- Poor Hygiene Practices
Keeping the eyelids clean and free of debris and oil is an important part of stye prevention. Inadequate hygiene practices can result in serious consequences. Poor hygiene practices like not washing your hands before touching your eyes or avoiding cleaning your makeup tools can lead bad bacteria to your eyelid area.
Sharing other items such as makeup or makeup brushes only adds to that risk. Make sure to wash your face regularly to reduce bacteria on the skin. Use clean hands whenever touching your eyes to significantly reduce your risk of developing a stye.
This is particularly critical for contact lens wearers, who should make sure to keep their lenses clean and remember to take them out and store them properly. These habits support eye health overall and help prevent bacteria from entering the sensitive eye area.
- Use Of Expired Cosmetics
Unbeknownst to many, using expired cosmetics can be another hidden culprit in the development of styes. Old makeup can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which love to live in the warm and moist conditions of mascaras and eyeliners. All those germs in the products build up over time.
These germs are very easy to spread to the eyelid, where they can cause blockages and infections. The best way to avoid this issue is by regularly checking the expiration dates on eye products and discarding them when they’re past their prime.
- Eye Irritations
Irritations can cause styes. Dust, allergens, or simply rubbing the eyes too vigorously can cause trauma to the eyelids, causing inflammation and blockage of the oil glands. These irritations can alter the natural workings of oil glands, causing them to become infected.
Using protective eyewear in dusty environments and staying on top of allergies can prevent these irritations from occurring. Be sure to treat the eye area delicately when removing makeup or applying skincare products.
Treatment Options For Styes
- Home Remedies
As with all minor ailments, home is usually the best and most convenient place to find remedies that keep it simple and effective. Applying a warm compress is generally considered the best stye home treatment and most effective way to speed up the healing process.
Simply place a warm, damp, clean washcloth on top of your eyelid. Perform this for 10 to 15 minutes multiple times a day. The heat increases blood flow to the area. This will promote natural draining of the stye and can provide pain and swelling relief.
- Medical Treatments
When a stye is infected, it will likely need more than home treatment. Medical treatments are warranted when complications develop, including the infection spreading beyond the eyelid.
In rare and extreme circumstances, you might need oral antibiotics to help tackle the infection. This is especially the case if an incision is needed to drain a persistent hordeolum. In adults, an eye doctor can inject a steroid directly into the hordeolum. This not only helps to quickly reduce your swollen eyelid and irritation, but also offers soothing comfort.
- Surgical Intervention
In rare cases, a stye will not go away with home or medical treatments and surgery may be needed. Under local anesthesia, a small incision will be made to remove the stye. This technique is especially useful for internal hordeola that are very painful or don’t go away with other treatments.
Conclusion
Styes in eyes are a pesky, common eye condition, but most styes will resolve on their own with a simple home treatment. By learning what causes them and how you can prevent them, you can help keep your eyes healthy and comfortable. If your stye is not healing with your natural home remedies, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr D’Orio Eyecare today! Visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment/ or call us at 416-656-2020 for our Toronto location, or 416-661-5555 for our North York location.
