A stye is an inflamed and painful swelling that occurs around the eyelid. So, how does a stye heal? What are the symptoms of stye?

Styes develop as a result of infection of the sebaceous glands in the eyelid or the eyelash root. The infection is usually caused by staphylococcal bacteria. This infection can develop when unclean hands are brought to the eye area, or when hygiene is not observed when using contact lenses or cosmetic products. It is a common eye infection and can occur at any age. Stye may recur several times during a person’s life.

What are the types of stye?
Stye types; It is divided into two as internal and external stye. Internal ones occur on the upper part of the lid and external ones occur at the base of the eyelash. External styes, which are much more common than internal styes, usually start in the eyelash follicle, sometimes in a sebaceous gland. Most internal styes start in a sebaceous (meibomian) gland in the eyelid tissue. They tend to be more painful than external styes, straining the eye as they grow.

What are the symptoms of a stye?
A stye is an infection with very characteristic symptoms. It is characterized by a red, pimple-like, painful swelling on the eyelid. It causes pain, swelling and watery eyes around the eye and eyelid. There may be a white spot in the center of the bump that looks like pus, and it can also cause swelling of the entire eyelid. A stye usually affects only one eye. However, it is also possible to have more than one stye in one eye at the same time. Styes are one of the most common eye infections. It can sometimes be confused with other infections that have similar symptoms but do not cause as much pain as styes. Chalazion, which appears as a redness and lump on the eyelid, is one of these. A chalazion usually appears as a lump that does not cause pain. It is firm when pressed. It is caused by blockage of the sebaceous glands at the base of the eyelashes and, unlike stye, usually develops on the inside of the eyelid. Although chalazion and stye have different causes, they are usually treated in a similar way. Other common eye infections are blepharitis and conjunctivitis. Blepharitis or conjunctivitis should be suspected if there is redness in the eye, but no pus-filled swelling and watery eyes. Blepharitis is a condition that occurs at the base of the eyelashes. Conjunctivitis is an eye infection that can be bacterial or viral.

How is a stye treated?
Stye is a common infection and most of the time it disappears on its own. When you feel a stye coming out or notice swelling in the area, compressing the area with a warm and damp cloth can speed up the healing process and reduce sensitivity and pain in the area. It is sufficient to apply this compress for 5-10 minutes several times a day as long as the stye persists. Painkillers can also be used to relieve pain. However, if the stye does not improve within 48 hours, if the redness and swelling spreads to the entire eyelid and cheek area, or if vision is impaired, it is worth seeing a doctor. In such cases, antibiotics may be prescribed or surgery may be performed to drain the pus from the stye. When a stye develops, it is important to avoid putting your hands to your eyes and to stop wearing contact lenses. The bump may look like a pimple, but it should not be squeezed thinking that it will heal easily. Because it may cause the infection to spread.

The following methods can be applied to heal the stye faster and prevent the infection from spreading:

• After washing your hands, press a clean towel or cloth into warm water and compress it on the stye for 5-10 minutes.
• Then run your finger over the stye and gently massage it to open the blocked canal.
• When the stye comes out, keep your hands, face and eye area clean. Remove burrs from the eyes.
• Repeat the warm compress several times during the day, each time with a clean cloth.

How long does it take for a stye to heal?
Even if the stye goes away on its own, it is more likely to remain in the form of a chalazion. Although the stye is self-limiting, the risk of cyst formation increases when left untreated. The average infection state of the stye lasts about a week. With treatment, the signs of infection improve in a week. The earlier treatment is started for a stye, the greater the chance of healing without scarring and the lower the risk of chalazion.

Is stye contagious?
One of the most curious issues about this disease is whether it is contagious or not. However, it is possible to say that stye disease is not contagious in any way. Because it is a self-limiting form of infection. In other words, it only enlarges itself significantly in terms of the area where it is located. Apart from that, it does not infect other parts of the body or infect any person in different ways. Stye disease is not transmitted to another person in any way. In other words, even if many different methods are handled together with contact or airway, it is not a disease that is transmitted to anyone else in any way.

What happens if stye is not treated?
If the stye is left untreated, the possibility of chalazion increases. In very rare cases, trying to squeeze out the stye and doing the wrong things to the eye can lead to excessive swelling of the eyelid (preseptal cellulitis). This is especially risky in children. Because infections in the facial area of children can spread to the brain. For this reason, inflammation of the eyelids should be taken very seriously.

Factors that increase the risk of stye
Inadequate lid hygiene: Children in particular do not wash their hands and face and do not sterilize the base of their eyelashes well
Presence of diseases such as biliopharyngitis: Presence of other valve diseases that cause styes, such as biliopharyngitis
Contact lens hygiene: Contact lens wearers putting in and taking out their lenses without disinfecting them thoroughly or washing their hands first
Sleeping without removing makeup: Leaving eye makeup on overnight without removing it
Skin disorders: Having rosacea, a skin condition characterized by facial redness

What can be done to prevent styes?

• Hygiene should be ensured by washing hands with soap and warm water. Especially before children go to sleep, the base of the eyelashes should be washed with baby shampoo.
• Hands should be kept away from the eyes and eyes should not be rubbed.
• Care should be taken with cosmetic products and the risk of eye infection should be reduced by throwing away old cosmetic products.
• Cosmetic products should not be shared with others and make-up should not be worn at night. Because make-up products cause blockage of the tear glands.
• Cosmetic products that cause allergies should not be preferred.
• Make sure that contact lenses are clean. Contact lens wearers should wash their hands thoroughly before touching the lenses and follow the doctor’s recommendations to disinfect them.
• If you have had styes before, regular hot compresses can help prevent them from coming back.
• People with blepharitis should follow their doctor’s instructions for eye care and make it a habit to regularly remove dandruff from the base of the eyelashes.

Prof. Dr. Murat Hasanreisoğlu

May 2023