20
Apr

If you have a small, painful, red bump on the margin of the eyelid, then it’s possible that you might have an eye stye. Most of the time, this condition is harmless and inconvenient. But it’s important to talk to an eye doctor and be proactive about treatment so the stye heals as quickly as possible.

What Are Eye Styes?

It can be concerning to see a bump growing on your eyelid. These small pimple-like growths not only look unpleasant, but they can also be painful.

Most of the time, styes develop because of inflammation and clogging that occurs in oil glands. Usually, the glands produce oil that helps to lubricate the eyes. But it’s possible for small debris to clog the glands, which causes inflammation in the gland.

If bacteria enter the gland, then it can be another cause of eye stye development. An infection can develop, causing the area to swell. The body increases inflammation as a way to fight the infection. Staphylocoous aureus (staph aureus) is the most common type of bacteria that causes eye styes.

Are Eye Styes Contagious?

Since inflamed oil glands cause most eye styes, they aren’t infections. So, eye styes aren’t infectious – which means you can’t pass the condition to other people. But if the stye is associated with an eye infection, then it’s possible to pass the bacteria to others through contact.

Treatment Tips for an Eye Stye

It’s common for eye styes to go away on their own within a week or two. If you notice that the symptoms aren’t improving or the stye is getting worse, then make sure to talk to an eye doctor.

A few at-home treatments can help to alleviate the symptoms and speed up the healing process:

• Warm Compresses: Put dry rice in a sock and microwave it for 15 – 20 seconds. Then place the compress on your eye for 10 – 15 minutes, gently massaging the affected area. This treatment can be done three to five times per day. After the stye goes away, continue with the treatment for a few more days to prevent the stye from returning.
• Cleaning: Make sure to use warm water and a soft washcloth to clean the eyelid and remove any debris. Keeping debris and flakes off the eyelashes can help to reduce the things that could clog the glands.
• Over the Counter Medication: Reduce the pain by using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen.

If the at-home remedies aren’t working and the symptoms continue, then your eye doctor can provide additional treatments such as antibiotics if it’s a bacterial infection, steroid shots, or even surgery to drain the stye.

If you have an eye stye or anything else affecting your eyes or vision, then contact our team at Temecula Creek Optometry to schedule an appointment: (951) 302 -1331.