Treating A Stye The Safe Way

by Anne Rivera

A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is basically something that looks like a pimple that appears on the eyelid. This is due to the infection of sebaceous glands in the eye. While this condition does not cause long-term damage, it does cause the sufferer a considerable amount of pain. If you have a stye right now, then pay special attention to it and learn how to treat it properly.

Stye Causes

The infection is usually caused by Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria. This can happen to anyone of any age although it tends to be more prevalent amongst infants. Other causes can include stress, poor nutrition, and even the use of razor blades to shave hair near the eyes, which can spread staphylococcus. Also, it can be merely a secondary effect for other conditions, mainly blepharitis. This is not to be mistaken to be a blocked oil gland near the eye.

Stye Signs and Symptoms

Tenderness, pain, and redness are the first signs of a stye manifesting. Itching, swelling, watering of the eye, sensitivity to light, and discomfort while blinking will soon follow, and then a yellowish bump will become visible in most prominent cases. It can occur to any area on the eye.

Stye Remedies

Most styes would just drain itself in time, but it does take a bit of time. To hasten this healing process, a hot compress can be applied, as well pulling out the eyelash near the said stye. There is also a Polysporin topical ointment especially made for stye that can be applied at the affected area, but be careful to not have the cream get into the eye itself. As long as proper procedures are observed, styes can be treated successfully within a week. Sure, you can pop it since it is technically a pimple, but you might just bring more harm to yourself than good. Such procedures require professional expertise due to its proximity to the eye itself. Since it is an infection, touching it often is definitely not advised and should be avoided as much as possible. The discomfort can be tended to with a warm cloth.

Medical professionals would sometimes advice lancing a persistent or an especially irritating stye with a needle to drain it right away, although this is something of a last resort. The expansion of a stye can also be eliminated with erythromycin opthalmic ointment like Neosporin. Amoxicillin may be prescribed as well for a week to combat the infection

If that stye pops, then you must clean the wound to keep it from getting infected again. An antibacterial solution should be used for a stye that is already "ripe". Do not try to pop it yourself as it may cause even more pain and irritation.

During treatment of the stye, do not wear contact lenses as it may induce irritation and additional infection. Also, do not put eye make-up on or other such products as it may also trigger irritation. Keep the affected portion as clean as possible and keep applying a warm compress to reduce swelling.