Stye and Eyelid Disease Specialist Questions and Answers
Come to ABC Vision Clinic for stye and eyelid disease treatment. Our doctors are here to help get you on the road to recovery. For more information please call our clinic today or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Nicetown CA , Washington Terrace UT, Uintah UT, Harrisville UT, South Nicetown CA and Roy, UT.
A stye is the inflammation of the eyelid involving the small glands near the base of the eyelid. They are caused by a bacterial infection and are often filled with pus. If left untreated, styes can lead to chalazions, which are an advanced infection of the eyelid.
Can a stye cause your eyelid to swell?
Caused by a bacterial infection, styes usually appear as a swollen, reddish bump on the edge of an eyelid and also occur when a meibomian gland becomes inflamed. Meibomian glands produce oil, and when they become blocked a typical symptom is eyelid swelling. In moderate or severe cases, a stye can cause swelling in the entire eyelid.
How do you get rid of a stye on the inside of your eyelid?
A stye is a lump caused by a bacterial infection that develops under the eyelid or at the eyelash base. It is often swollen, red and painful. Styes can be either internal or external.
Internal — This stye develops inside the eyelid. This type of stye can result when an oil-producing gland gets infected.
External — This stye develops at the eyelash base. It sometimes resembles a pimple. This type of stye can occur when a hair follicle gets infected.
The eyelid can be tender when someone touches it and red when a stye first starts to develop. The eye may be scratchy and sore. Other stye symptoms may include:
- A small spot of pus in the middle of the stye bump
- Sensitivity to light
- Tearing of the eye
- The sensation of grit, sand or something stuck in the eye
- Crust along the eyelid margin
Home treatments include keeping the eye clean and avoiding the use of makeup and/or contacts until the stye is healed. Warm compresses are often recommended. It is important to NEVER pop a stye, as this can lead to further infection of the eye and surrounding area. To break down bacterial membranes and promote drainage, doctors may recommend using a saline solution. Medical treatments include: Antibiotics — These can come in the form of eye drops which are applied directly to the eye, ointment which is applied to the affected area, or in pill form which are used when there is a risk of a spread infection.
Steroid Shots — Styes can cause inflammation and swelling. If severe enough, corticosteroids may be used to relieve these symptoms.
Surgical Drainage — Surgical draining may proceed if other methods do not provide relief. In rare cases, styes can lead to superficial cellulitis. In turn, these can lead to abscesses, which are a much more serious infection. This will be performed in the doctor’s office.
What happens if a stye is left untreated?
It is important to treat a stye as soon as possible. If left untreated, the swelling, inflammation, and redness can worsen and develop into a chalazion, which is the infection of a blocked oil gland. Chalazions cause a hard, painful bump on the eyelid. Chalazions are very similar to styes and usually require medical intervention.
If you or someone you know has a stye or other eyelid disease, come to ABC Vision Clinic today! Our kind and compassionate professionals are experienced in treating styes, chalazions and other infections of the eyelids, so you can be confident in the hands of an expert. For more information, call our office and get in touch with a member of our specialist team. You can also visit our website or speak with us over the phone to book an appointment today.
