Stye, also known as "dog elbow", is an infection that occurs in the eyelid glands. It occurs due to bacterial infection of the eye due to constant contact of the hand with the eye. In addition, situations such as sleeping without removing makeup and not paying attention to hygiene if contact lenses are used also pave the way for stye formation. A stye is characterized by swelling or redness of the eyelid. The first symptoms of stye formation are itching and stinging sensation in the eye. It then becomes visible on the skin within a day or two. It does not go away on its own and if the correct treatment is not applied, the stye cysts, hardens and can cause chalazion formation. When the necessary treatment is applied, it is possible for it to pass within a week.
What is a stye?
Stye, which occurs as a result of inflammation of the tear glands responsible for secreting oil in the eyelid due to infection, appears red and painful around the eye, similar to acne. If the stye, which causes a lot of discomfort to the person, is treated, it is possible to recover within a week. For various reasons, the sebaceous glands in the eyelids become blocked and bacterial infection occurs in these glands.
If the stye does not heal, the eyelid may swell and close; the stye cysts, hardens and may cause chalazion formation. In order to prevent stye, which usually comes to the fore when immunity is low, hands should not come into contact with the eye if they are not clean. When the bacteria on the hands come into contact with the eye, sleeping without removing make-up, not paying attention to contact lens hygiene, etc. stye may occur in case of unhygienic conditions.
What are the types of stye?
There are two types of stye: internal stye, which usually occurs on the upper part of the lid, and external stye, which occurs at the base of the eyelashes. To explain internal stye and external stye in detail:
Internal stye
Internal styes are caused by a blockage of the sebaceous glands in the eyelid and put strain on the eye as they develop. This type of stye can be more painful than an external stye. It is observed with symptoms such as redness in the form of a swelling on the eyelid, tenderness around the eye and pain.
External stye
This type of stye appears like a pimple at the base of the eyelashes. External stye, which occurs acutely and is caused by bacterial infection, is inflamed, painful and causes swelling.
Why does a stye appear?
- Frequent eye contact with hand
- Sleeping without removing makeup
- Not paying attention to hygiene in contact lens use
- Fat accumulation at the base of the eyelashes and blockage of the glands
- Dandruff at the base of the eyelashes
- Frequent exposure to dusty and polluted environments
- The eye is susceptible to infection
- Excessive consumption of fatty foods
- Not eating a healthy diet
In addition, low immune system, insomnia and fatigue are among the factors that trigger the formation of stye.
What are the Symptoms of Stye?
There are some main symptoms of stye. In case of stye, the most common symptom is swelling of the eyelid. The stye, which looks like a pimple and is inflamed due to bacterial infection, usually occurs with a yellowish pus on it. At the same time, redness, light sensitivity, pain and burning sensation, stinging, watering, itching, crusting or dandruff in the eyelash area can be seen around the eye.
How Does Stye Pass?
Hygiene of the eyelid and eye area is important in the treatment of stye. This area should be regularly cared for and the area should be treated with a warm dressing. After dressing for 5-10 minutes, the eyelash bases are gently rubbed and washed with baby shampoo that does not burn the eyes. However, with the hot dressing, it is aimed to open the sebaceous glands and the cyst structure inside to come out. This method accelerates the treatment process. After hygiene is ensured and the eye area is cleaned, antibiotic drops and ointment are applied to the problem area. After the stye bursts and heals, it will be healthy to stay away from lens use and make-up for a while.
What is Stye Treatment?
Personal hygiene and care are important in case of stye formation. If you are sensitive and meticulous during the treatment, the stye will heal within an average of one week. If you are examined by an ophthalmologist, your doctor may recommend medications such as pomade and eye drops. These medicines help both to heal the condition and to reduce the symptoms. After the stye is treated, it will heal within 2 to 3 weeks, but if it does not heal, surgical surgery may be the solution. With surgical surgery, the inflammation in the sac is completely drained through an incision on the inside of the eyelid. If the stye forms a cyst, stye surgery is performed. In this surgery, the inflammation in the eyelid is cleaned and the area is cleared of the fat accumulation that causes the cyst. This process may take about 20 minutes and then the eye is bandaged and protected. No stitches are required after the procedure and there is no scarring. The eye bandage is removed the next day and antibiotic drops are applied to the eye for about a week.