Having an eye stye is not only unsightly but it is also painful. Styes can make it hard to open your eye or even see clearly. If left untreated they can create bigger problems. Now is the time to learn everything you can about eye styes. After all, you might find the information later when an issue arises but you probably won’t be able to read it.

What are Eye Styes?

First and foremost, you need to understand what eye styes are and what they aren’t. When you have a stye in your eye, you should be concerned but not alarmed. Styes are actually pretty common and are not signs of anything more serious.

Put simply, a stye is a small lump on the eyelid which can become inflamed or painful. Known as a hordeolum, an eye stye is actually just an abscess that has become filled with pus. As nasty as that sounds, most people experience at least one stye in their lifetime.

How are Eye Styes Caused?

What causes eye styes is a bigger concern and emphasizes the need for cleanliness. Styes are typically caused by the staphylococcus bacteria, or better known as a “staph infection.” The unfortunate part is that this bacteria usually lives right on the surface of the skin. The good news is that washing your hands can help. Eye styes occur when the tiny eyelid gland ducts become clogged with dirt, oil, bacteria, and debris. Keeping your fingers out of your eye will certainly be in your favour.

What are the Symptoms of an Eye Stye?

It won’t be hard to tell whether or not you have a stye in your eye, especially since it usually feels like there is a grain of sand lodged in there. Eye styes are pretty uncomfortable once they begin to grow, but in the meantime you can watch out for symptoms such as:

  • Swelling on or near the edge of your eyelid
  • Redness or extreme tenderness on the eye
  • Smooth, round bumps around the middle of your eyelid
  • Inexplicable vision impairment

NOTE: See an eye doctor if any of those symptoms persist for longer than one week or if you have styes that continually reappear.

How are Eye Styes Treated?

Treatment of styes is easy with the help of an eye doctor and a bacteria-fighting prescription. Keep the area clean to help prevent styes from developing in the first place. Talk to your eye doctor to learn more.