A stye is a localized infection or inflammation
of the eyelid margin involving hair follicles of the eyelashes.
The medical term for stye is hordeolum and it is an infection caused by
bacteria that normally live on the surface of the eyelid skin without
causing disease. Some of these germs get trapped along with dead skin
cells inside crypts along the eyelid margin. Styes are usually
superficial and plainly visible. Occasionally they can reside deeper
within the eyelid.
Cause-
Some people with chronic blepharitis are prone to clogged eyelid
glands, in which bacteria builds up and infects the glands. Sharing
make-up or applying too much eye makeup can sometimes cause styes to
develop.
Styes are similar to common acne pimples that occur elsewhere on the
skin. You may have more than one stye at the same time.
Styes usually develop over a few days and may drain and heal on their
own.
Risk factors-
Diabetes
Chronic blepharitis [lid infection]
Seborrhea
High serum lipids (High lipid levels increase the blockage rate of
sebaceous glands)
Small unprescribed refractive error
Symptoms-
1.Red swollen eyelid.
2.Tenderness on affected area with pain.
3.Foreign body sensation in eye.
4.Sensitivity to light.
5.Tearing of eyes.
In severe styes, a yellow spot may develop in the center, similar to a
pimple. Known as an internal hordeolum, it develops as pus builds up
inside the stye. Pain usually subsides if the stye ruptures and pus is
drained. Some styes never form this pimple-like head, and the pus
continues to accumulate. Some large styes can interfere with vision.
Treatment-
1.Styes can be treated by applying warm compresses. It should be
applied for 10 minutes. It should be done for four times in a day.
2.The entire area must be messaged in order to speed up the healing
process.
3.Contact lenses and eye- make up must be avoided.
4.A stye should be allowed to drain its own. It should not squeezed in
order to prevent severe infection.
Role of homoeopathy
Homoeopathy shows excellent results in treating styes. The medicine is
selected by giving importance to each and every alteration in the
patient from a healthy state to the diseased state.
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