Your eye is the window through which you see the world, and the eye lashes act as curtains that protect your window like eyes, from dust particles that might harm them. Your eyelashes also need to be taken care of. If the eyelashes lack proper hygiene, they get infected by bacteria known as Staphylococcus aureus which leads to the formation of a Sty.
Painful eyelashing
A sty is an abscess (pus accumulation) of the oil glands present at the root of an eyelash. It is a bacterial infection of the hair follicle which resembles a boil. It blocks the hair follicles which makes the area swollen and painful to touch. Sties do not damage the eye and they can occur at any age. Sties are generally harmless and disappear after a few days, but infection can spread and cause other Sties to appear.
Sty initially starts as painful reddish lump on the eyelid that gets larger, and then develops a yellow color point on it which is pus formation. Irritation to the eye may lead to watering and mucus discharge from the eye. The vision may become blurred in few cases. If the sty breaks releasing the pus, then the swelling reduces fast, otherwise it takes longer time to disappear.
Sties are usually caused by improper hygiene of the eyes. People who fail to remove their eye makeup completely or use outdated cosmetics may also develop a sty. In addition, stress and hormonal changes are known to cause sty.
Visiting the doctor
If the sty does not disappear within 14 days, it is better to visit the doctor. Symptoms that you should look out for are increase of swelling within 2-3 days after sty first appeared, swollen eyelid that is completely shut, increase in pain after initial treatment at home, eyelid turning hot, oozing of pus and blood from the sty, blistering on eyelid, fever with chills, changes in vision and recurrent sties.
Questions you need to ask your doctor when you visit him for your treatment :
- What is the cause of your sty?
- How long will the sty take to disappear?
- What are the tests needed for sty?
- What is the treatment plan?
- How to prevent recurrence of sties?
- What is the cost of the treatment?
- Is there any insurance coverage for the treatment?
- Is there any alternative medication for the one you are prescribing?
- Do you have any reading material to take home?
- Can you suggest any websites that provide information?
- When can I come for follow up visit?
Do not hesitate to ask questions to your doctor. Make sure you take a friend or someone from your family who will help you remember any question that you may forget to ask the doctor. You must inform the doctor about the symptoms you have been experiencing, medications you have been taking and all about your past medical history.
Treating a Sty
Treatment for a Sty should be done only after consulting your doctor. You can however do certain things at home itself to speed up the treatment. Using a warm compress on your eye for more than 5 minutes, three to four times a day may help. The area near the Sty should be kept clean. Washing your eye with alum water is beneficial. Never pinch the sty, as the infection could spread. Do not wear any contact lenses or eye makeup. Antibiotic creams are prescribed to stop recurrent sties. Oral antibiotics and analgesics may also be prescribed by the doctor. If the Sty is not responding to treatment then drainage of the sty surgically is recommended. Once the pus is drained out, the Sty heals faster.
The eye problem similar to sty is a Chalazion which is a bump on the eyelid causing blurred vision. It is less painful than a sty and is caused due to a blocked oil gland on the eyelid. Treatment of a Chalazion is similar to a sty and it takes almost 2 to 8 weeks to cure.
Preventing a sty
A sty occurs in people whose eye hygiene is poor. You must make sure that you remove your eye makeup at night. Never use make up that is old or make up someone else has used. Contact lenses should also be changed once in awhile and be placed in contact lens cleaning solution. By maintaining good eye hygiene one can prevent sties. A sty can also occur due to dry skin, stressful conditions and hormonal changes. In people with conditions like Acne and Blepharitis which is the inflammation of eyelids, sties occur. If someone in the family has sties, it is advised not to use their towels and clothing. Wash all the towels and napkins you use when you have a sty, in hot water with disinfectant solution. Always wash your hands properly after cleaning the sty. Use antibiotic creams as prescribed by the doctor to prevent the spread of the infection to other areas.
For your eyes only
Without vision our world would be in darkness. To keep our vision intact, we must follow proper eye hygiene methods. A little care that we show for our eyes today, will help us keep our vision intact for a long time to come.
