What Is a Stye?
An internal eye stye is an inflamed and infected oil gland in the eye, generally occurring on either the upper or lower eye lid. When the oil glands near the eyelashes or under the eyelid become infected with bacteria, a small, painful, pus-filled abscess may form, also known as a stye. External styes can sometimes look like an eyelid pimple, while an internal stye may cause additional swelling and puffiness around the entire eyelid and a white patch inside the eyelid. Internal styes are generally more painful and may last longer as well.
Sometimes, stye symptoms can be mistaken for blepharitis, which is an infection of the eyelid that also causes redness and swelling. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis from your eye doctor to treat the problem correctly if you are unsure. Styes are very common in children and those aged 30-50. And, while this condition does not often lead to vision loss or severe problems, it is important to seek treatment to prevent the problem from getting worse.
What Causes Internal Styes?
Internal styes are very often caused by bacteria in the eye from improper eye hygiene. The bacteria that causes styes in the eyes is called Staphylococcus aureus, and may be introduced to the glands when touching the eyes with dirty hands, not properly cleaning contact lenses, using old or contaminated makeup, or having other eye conditions, like blepharitis.
Are Styes Contagious?
An internal stye is not contagious, however, the bacteria that causes the condition can be spread from one person to the other through direct contact. This is why it’s so important to avoid touching the stye and area around the stye, avoid sharing makeup and glasses, and even stop wearing makeup and contacts until the stye has resolved. Additionally, be sure to wash pillowcases, sheets, towels, and any other commonly used fabrics that touch your face to prevent the continued spread of the bacteria.
If left untreated, the stye can progress to a condition called orbital cellulitis, an infections that spreads for widely across the skin, requiring antibiotic treatment to fix.
How to Cure a Stye in Your Eye
The good news is that most styes can be treated with stye inner eyelid treatment at home and do not require a trip to the doctor. However, some severe cases may require antibiotic eye drops for stye. To treat a stye in your eye, start by applying a warm compress to the area for 10-20 minutes multiple times throughout the day. You can purchase a warm compress from any major health retailer, or you can use a clean towel soaked in hot water for a few minutes. Additionally, you can try massaging your eyelid and area around the stye to break up the stye, but make sure your hands are clean and the area is sanitized. Never try to pop the stye as this can cause the bacteria to spread to other areas.
How Long Does an Internal Stye Last?
A stye can last anywhere from a week to two weeks, but following the advice above may reduce the amount of time the stye is active. If you have a stye for more then two weeks or what looks like an infected stye, it’s time to book an appointment with a medical professional for treatment or an antibiotic ointment for styes.
When to See an Eye Doctor for a Stye
Typically, an internal stye is nothing to worry about and can be treated very easily at home. However, if you have swelling of the entire eyelid or face, worsening or blocked vision, or the stye continues to worsen over time, schedule an appointment at the nearest OCLI Vision office for treatment with an eye doctor for stye!
