Styes Can Be Incredibly Irritating
If you’ve ever gotten a stye in your eye, you know that it is an experience you do not want to repeat. Styes are incredibly irritating and distracting, and when you get one, it’s hard to think about anything but getting rid of it.
What Exactly Is a Stye?
A stye is really just another name for a pimple or an abscess, except this one forms on the surface or inside of your eyelid rather than somewhere on your exposed skin. They form and have a life similar to that of any other pimple.
Dead skin and other debris and bacteria get lodged in an oil duct, become inflamed, and form an unsightly, uncomfortable red bump. Unlike a traditional pimple, it can be very tough not to constantly agitate a stye in your eye. Eventually, most styes, like pimples, burst and heal on their own.
Stye Prevention
To prevent styes from forming or to help current ones heal faster, you will take a similar approach as you would with a pimple. However, do not apply an anti-acne pad (which may contain alcohol) to your eye, as this could be dangerous for your vision.
Instead, simply put a couple of drops of baby shampoo into a small cup of warm water and stir it up. Use a cotton swab or a washcloth and brush the mixture along the base of your eyelashes with your eyes closed. This will help get rid of the kind of debris that is likely to cause or exacerbate a stye.
If you notice a tender spot near your eyelashes, it probably means that a stye is getting ready to form. Add a warm compress to the area to open it up so it will heal faster.
A popular home remedy for styes is tea. More specifically, this involves applying a warm black tea bag to the stye. Steep the bag as if you were actually making tea, then let it cool down and put it over your eye for five to ten minutes. Black tea has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which is what often makes this home remedy effective.
Will a Stye Affect My Vision?
In general, a stye (scientific name: hordeolum), should not affect your vision. As long as you do not attempt to burst it yourself or do anything else to your eye other than keep it clean, your stye should go away in less than a week without any ill effects.
However, if it persists, it may be a sign of another condition, such as blepharitis or rosacea. If you have been developing styes frequently or they last longer than normal, you should see your doctor for assessment and treatment.
Could It Be Something More Serious?
While styes are mostly harmless, there are a number of eye conditions that could endanger your eye health whose early symptoms may be hard to notice. It’s always a good idea to get a full eye examination at least once a year to make sure your eyes are completely healthy and to get any necessary treatment as early as possible.
In Portland, come to Beaumont Vision where you can get a complete eye exam from a residency-trained optometric physician in a comfortable, professional environment. Contact us now to set up an appointment.