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Stye (hordeolum)
The eyelid swells up and a small nodule becomes visible. This is basically no reason to panic, because a stye can form quickly due to an infection with bacteria. You can read here where styes come from and when you should nevertheless go to an eye specialist.
What is a stye?
A stye is an inflammatory disease of the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection. It actually looks like a small nodule that has formed due to a collection of pus on the eyelid. The medical term is hordeolum. It originates from one of the various glands located in the eyelid.
The meibomian glands are located at the inner edge of the eyelid; they supply the lipid content for the tear fluid so that the tear film does not evaporate too quickly. The glands of Moll and Zeis are located on the outer edge of the eyelid; they produce sweat and sebum.
From a medical point of view, a stye is therefore divided into different types, depending on which glands it originates from:
- Internal hordeolum: This is the most common type. Here, the stye is located on the inside of the eyelid at the meibomian glands.
- External hordeolum: This type of stye is easy to recognise because it is located on the outer edge of the eyelid near the eyelashes. In this case, there is an infection of the glands of Moll or Zeiss.
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What causes a stye?
In most cases, a stye is caused by a bacterial infection with staphylococci. These bacteria occur naturally on the human skin. If you rub your eyes, for example, they can easily get into your eyes and cause the infection. Because children often touch their eyes, they are much more likely to get a stye than adults. Normally, an infection with staphylococci is quite harmless and heals on its own.
However, if a stye keeps recurring, it should be examined by an eye specialist. This is because the recurrent infection could be a sign of diabetes. A weakened immune system is one of the main reasons why styes keep forming and even trigger inflammation.
How do I recognise a stye?
If the stye has formed on the outside of the eyelid, it is easy to recognise. Usually only a small reddened lump is visible at first, which in the course of time becomes larger due to the accumulation of pus, and therefore becomes tense and painful. But often the stye is hidden on the inner side. Then the following symptoms can be a sign of the infection:
- swollen, reddened eyelid
- watery eye
- eye pain
- scratching and rubbing when blinking
- in severe cases, the eye may even swell up completely
How can I get rid of a stye?
In most cases, the pus nodule will open on its own over time. The secretion can drain away and the inflammation gradually subsides. Treatment is not absolutely necessary. However, an internal stye should be examined by an eye specialist because the inflammation can spread to the conjunctiva or the eye socket. The infection can be curbed by ointments or eye drops containing antibiotics, and tablets can also be taken.
To promote the healing process, you can irradiate the eye with red light. The dry heat promotes blood circulation, which encourages the nodule to open. Healing can be supported by sitting in front of an red light three times a day for ten minutes at a time. Moist compresses, on the other hand, are usually counterproductive. Contact lenses should also not be worn until the inflammation has completely healed.
If the pus nodule simply does not heal on its own, the eye specialist can open it with a small incision under local anaesthetic so that the secretion can drain off.
How contagious is a stye?
Because a stye is caused by bacteria, it is contagious. Therefore, you should avoid contact with other people during the acute phase and wash your hands regularly. In general, pay more attention to hygiene, and ideally do not touch your eye at all. This is because bacteria can easily be transmitted via a smear infection.
How long does it take for a stye to disappear?
Although a stye can be extremely painful, it usually heals on its own without complications. On average, it takes about two weeks, provided you do not start squeezing it, because then there is a risk of forming an abscess on the eyelid. In addition, the inflammation can spread to the eye socket. Therefore, it is better to consult an eye specialist, even if it is only a small stye.