Although annoying, the sties usually heal without complications, and perhaps that is why many people only remember them when they suffer from one. That is why, from our ophthalmology clinicWe want to explain how to cure a stye and how you can reduce the risk of developing one. The best thing to do is to maintain simple hygiene so that you never again have to wonder what a stye is and how to cure it.
What is a stye
A stye is a small lump that appears suddenly on an eyelid due to infection. It often contains pus and causes pain.
Sties originate in the sebaceous glands and are usually divided into external and internal styes, depending on whether they are on the outside or inside of the eyelid, respectively.
External sties
External sties are the most common. They appear on the edges of the eyelids and their healing is faster because they tend to drain on their own.
Internal sties
The sties internal are more likely to be painful. They develop on the inside of the eyelids, where the eyelashes grow. As drainage is more complicated, they take longer to heal.
Why do sties appear?
The origin of the sties is related to the accumulation of germs. The infection, caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, generates a small abscess in the sebaceous glands (Zeiss) or sweat-producing (Moll).
These glands secrete lipids into the eyelash follicles that are added to the surface layer of tears to slow their evaporation. The glands may be blocked by dead cells and sebum, which encourages the appearance of sties.
How to cure a stye in one eye
The question of how to cure a stye is a common one, but you should know that styes tend to go away on their own over time. However, draining the pus speeds up the process and reduces discomfort.
Alleviating the symptomskeeping the area clean and draining the pus are the three main objectives for anyone wondering how to cure a stye. All three can be tackled at the same time. For example, by applying wet compresses with warm water for five to ten minutes about three to four times a day.
The ophthalmologist may prescribe painkillers, creams or drops if there is pain, burning in the eye or severe discomfort. If healing does not progress or if the infection spreads outside the eyelid, antibiotics may be prescribed and even minor surgery with a scalpel may be performed.
In any case, do not try to burst the stye. To treat it, we recommend you make an appointment at our Dr. Nebro Ophthalmology Clinic, where we will offer you the best solution with all the guarantees.
The application of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) on the eyelids has proven to be effective in the treatment of sties y blepharitis improving the functioning of the palpebral glands,
Can sties be prevented?
There are a number of risk factors to consider if you want to reduce the chance of developing a stye in your eye. We can distinguish two types: harmful lifestyle habits and contact infection.
Sleep deprivation or poor quality of sleep and the deficient nutrition are two factors related to habits that are detrimental to eye health. It is advisable to take care of your rest and follow a balanced diet.
To reduce the risk of infection, anything that involves direct contact with the eyes should be monitored. Two basic recommendations are not to use cosmetics after their expiry date and to remove make-up from the eyelids just before going to bed.
In addition, if contact lenses are used, it is advisable to disinfect them before inserting them and to do so with clean hands.
Another basic precaution is not to share towels used by other people, especially if they have a stye. This is easier to control at home, but in workplaces or public spaces it is always best to use paper towels.
There can be no effective prevention without observing basic rules of hygiene, such as not touching your eyes without washing your hands. The objects that are handled most often during the day should also be cleaned regularly: mobile phones, touch screens, keyboards, mice, etc.
You can see that eye hygiene is the main key when considering how to cure a stye. But to make things clearer for you, on the blog of the Dr. Nebro Ophthalmology Clinic we have many articles that may interest you to take care of your visual health.