Having a Stye Eye? All You Need to Know about Stye Eye

If you see a bump resembling a pimple on your eyelid or on someone else’s, it’s likely a stye. A stye eye is an infection in the oil gland around the eyelid, which can be quite painful and annoying. Here’s what you need to know to treat a stye and alleviate the pain. Join BabyRussets to discover more about stye eye care.

Overview of the Stye Eye

Bacteria, especially a type called staphylococcus, are the main cause of an eye stye. Your body is covered with billions of friendly bacteria that usually don’t cause any problems. However, when conditions are right, bacteria can multiply too much and cause an infection.

Several things can trigger a stye in the eye. Touching or rubbing your eyes with dirty hands can lead to an infection, especially during allergy season when your eyes are itchy. Using old makeup or not removing your eye makeup at night can also help bacteria grow.

When an oil gland in the eyelid gets blocked, it creates a place for bacteria to grow, leading to a stye in your eye. An infection in an inner eyelid gland causes an internal stye, while an infection in a gland in the eyelash follicle leads to an external stye.

What Is The Cause Of Stye Eye?

The development of a stye eye includes the following stages:

Beginning stages of eye stye: A bacterial infection starts on the eyelid, often because of touching your eyes with unwashed hands.

Formation of a lump: A painful, red, and tender lump appears on the eyelid.

Growth and pointing: The lump gets bigger and may develop a white or yellow top, showing the presence of pus. This is called ‘pointing’ and can happen along the edge of the eyelid or inside the eyelid. It’s less common for it to be on the outside of the eyelid.

Irritation and discomfort: The stye on eye can irritate the eye, causing it to water and feel like there is something in the eye.

Drainage or absorption: The surface over the stye may break, releasing the pus, or the swelling may go down without bursting as the body’s immune system fights the infection.

Resolution: If the pus drains, the lump usually goes away quickly. If it doesn’t, the swelling may last longer, and you might need to see a doctor.

What Are The Stages Of Stye Eye?

The development of a stye includes the following stages:

Initial infection: One of the beginning stages of eye stye. A bacterial infection occurs on the eyelid, often caused by touching your eyes with unwashed hands.

Formation of a lump: A painful, red, and tender lump appears on the eyelid.
Growth and pointing: The lump enlarges and may develop a white or yellow top, indicating the presence of a pustule or abscess. This is called ‘pointing’ and can occur along the edge of the eyelid (where eyelashes grow) or inside the eyelid. It’s uncommon for it to be on the outside of the eyelid.

How Common Are Stye Eye In The UK?

According to eye health surveys, approximately 1 in 5 people in the UK will experience a stye at some point in their lives. The table below shows more specific information.

Age Group	Likelihood of Getting Styes	Main Causes
Children (0-12)	Occasional	Poor hand hygiene, rubbing eyes, or sharing personal items.
Teens and Adults (13-50)	Moderate	Stress, hormonal changes, and using makeup or contact lenses.
Seniors (51+)	Decreases but still possible	Age-related changes, weakened immune system, or other underlying health conditions.

Is Stye Eye Contagious?

Technically, a stye can be contagious if a person with a stye touches it and then transfers the bacteria to another person. But this is not common.

You can’t catch a stye simply from being around someone who has one. However, touching, squeezing, or scratching a stye transfers that bacteria to your fingers or whatever item you used to touch the stye.

For example, bacteria can spread if a person touches their stye out of itchiness. After that, they don’t wash their hands before touching a common surface. They could have touched many things such as a doorknob, elevator button, or office coffee maker. Then, if someone else touches that surface and then their eyes before washing their hands, the bacteria can spread.

This can also happen when someone with a stye uses a towel on their face. And then maybe you use the same towel on your face, your eyes may come into direct contact with stye-causing bacteria.

Strategies to Avoid Stye Eye

From what you have learned, certain habits can lead to a stye. Changing a few habits can help, including:

• Wash your hands frequently: Hands often carry dirt and germs that can infect or your eye and cause a stye. Keep them clean with soap and warm water or use a hand sanitizer with alcohol.

• Avoid touching your eyes: It can be tempting to rub your eyes when they’re itchy, especially during allergy season. Try to resist this and consider allergy medication if it helps with the itch.
• Wash off makeup at night: Use a gentle, eye-safe cleanser to wash your face and eyelids before sleeping. Makeup can block pores and hair follicles, leading to styes.

• Keep makeup fresh: Replace products like eyeliner and mascara every 2 to 3 months. Never share your makeup with anyone to avoid bacterial transfer.
• Keep your contacts clean: Wash your hands before handling contacts and follow your doctor’s advice for cleaning and disinfecting them. Avoid sleeping with your contacts on.
• Manage blepharitis: If you have frequently inflamed eyelids, follow your doctor’s advice for managing the condition. This might include cleaning your eyelids every day.

What Can You Do If You Have A Stye Eye?

In most cases, a stye doesn’t require specific treatment and won’t affect your ability to see clearly. It will typically go away on its own after a week or two.

Here’s what you can do, leave it alone. Avoid touching or using makeup to cover it, even when it’s very irritating and annoying.

Never pop a stye. Popping it won’t make it go away any sooner; it will most likely make it worse. Squeezing or popping a stye can release bacteria into the eye, leading to a more serious infection.

For solutions to relieve the pain, keep reading for more ways to deal with a stye at home.

Treat Stye Eye At Home

A stye doesn’t need specific treatment and can be managed at home with some simple steps.

 Do

• Keep the affected area clean: Use a clean, warm, damp washcloth to gently clean the affected area. This helps remove any debris or crust that may be causing irritation.
• Apply a warm compress: Use a warm compress on the affected eye for 10-15 minutes several times a day. This helps relieve discomfort and encourages the stye to drain.

• Keep your hands clean: Wash your hands regularly, especially before touching your eyes.
• Use over-the-counter painkillers: If the pain is too much, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Don’t

• Squeeze or pop the stye: Avoid squeezing or popping the stye, as this can cause the infection to spread or worsen.
• Wear contact lenses: Avoid wearing contact lenses while you have a stye, as this can cause further irritation to the eye.
• Share personal items: Do not share personal items. Theses include towels, washcloths, or glasses with others, as this can spread the infection.
• Use eye makeup: Using eye makeup while you have a stye is not a good idea. This can result in further irritation and may also spread the infection.

When To Seek Medical Advice

A stye usually goes away on its own after a brief time. However, if it doesn’t improve after self-care treatment, you should seek medical help. See your doctor if:

• Your eye is swollen shut.
• Pustule or blood is leaking from the bump.
• Feeling more pain and swelling after the first two to three days.
• Blisters appear on your eyelid.
• Your eyelids feel hot.
• Your vision has changed.
• Styes keep coming back.

Conclusion

In short, if you or someone in your family has a stye eye, it’s best to use a warm compress to ease the pain and wait for the bacterial infection to go away on its own. Do not pop a stye and avoid touching it, using makeup, or sleeping with contacts on. Seek medical advice right away if your stye eye doesn’t improve or shows severe painful symptoms.

Note: Early intervention with proper self-care can make a significant difference in the healing process and prevent complications.