Hygiene key to avoiding eye issue
Is a spot of redness popping up around your eye? If the redness is more of a bump then the reddening of your eyeball, don’t assume you may pink eye. Instead, you may have a stye.
A stye is a type of abscess, similar to a pimple, which can form externally or internally. An external stye forms next to an eyelash. An internal stye, however, forms inside the eye on the underside of the eyelid.
Clogged oil glands and bacteria are usually the cause behind styes. They are relatively harmless, only providing sensitivity to the spot of the stye. Styes can sometimes cause cellulitis, a soft tissue infection that occurs where bacteria spreads. Though it’s rare, cellulitis can affect vision. If you experience intense burning and pain, visit a doctor immediately.
Most styes can be treated with warm compresses. Simply apply the compress to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes four times a day for several days. The compresses will help the stye to heal and relieve pain. Though it may be tempting, never squeeze the stye on your own. Instead wait for the stye to burst naturally.
Sometimes styes may call for topical treatment or oral antibiotics to heal, depending on the stye’s location and amount of infection. Sometimes an ophthalmologist will have to perform minor surgery to properly drain a stye.
While most styes go away within a week, contact your ophthalmologist if a stye persists for longer than 10 days. If you have a compromised immune system, such as suffering from diabetes, follow up with a doctor, as diseases that lead to a weak immune system can make infections harder to treat.
If you have a stye, avoid using contact lenses or eye makeup until it heals. For children especially, make sure he or she does not irritate the styes by repeatedly touching or poking at it. Make sure to keep the area as clean as possible and wash your face regularly.
If you or members of your family repeatedly suffer from styes, there are options. Improving eye lid hygiene is key to avoiding styes. Try mixing a few drops of mild baby shampoo in a cup of warm water. After stirring, gently brush
the liquid along the eyelashes’ base. You can also use baby shampoo in the shower to help clean your eyelids. If you wear contacts, keep your contacts clean and replace solution daily. Be sure to keep the lid secure on your contact lens case to limit infection. If you wear eye makeup, rinse your eye if you accidentally get makeup in your eye, and clean your eye makeup off before going to bed every night.
Doctors can also prescribe antibiotics for those who get styes regularly.
Recurring styes can be associated with chronic conditions such as blephartis, eyelid inflammation caused by excess bacteria growth, and acne rosacea, a skin condition causing redness and inflammation of the face. Your ophthalmologist and dermatologist can help put together a treatment plan for these conditions.
Remember, when it comes to your eyes, air on the side of caution, especially if you already have vision problems.
