Do you know what styes are and why they develop?
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A stye is a small spot or boil at the eyelid margin: a little red lump that hurts and usually lasts a few days. It is caused by a small infection in the glands lining the eyelids and generally resolves with local measures. Some people are prone to them, while in others they occur occasionally. Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid glands), stress, hormones and skin conditions, among other factors, make them more likely.
Treatment focuses on reducing the inflammation and applying an antibiotic for the infection:
- Local heat, either moist or dry, to dilate the gland ducts and allow accumulated material to drain.
- Gentle massage around the stye to encourage drainage.
- Eye ointment combining an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory medicine.
Sometimes a stye becomes chronic: a capsule forms around it, it stops being inflamed and painful, and remains as a small, hard, lentil-like lump that cannot be cleared. In these cases, it is resolved by making a small incision under local anaesthesia and thoroughly cleaning the area in the operating theatre.
When someone is prone to styes, prevention is paramount and involves a series of maintenance measures to stop them appearing:
- Apply dry or moist local heat to the eyelids for a few minutes.
- Massage to express the glands.
- Eyelid hygiene, removing the contents released by the heat and massage.
There are many different routines for preventing styes, and the aim is to help patients find the one that works best for them according to their anatomy, method of application and individual circumstances.
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