If you have ever had an eye stye, then you know just how painful and uncomfortable it can be, even though it is a small bump. This is an infection that can be prevented with quality eye care. Keep reading to learn some of the answers to commonly asked questions about styes, including what they are, how they can be treated, and how they can be prevented.
What Exactly Is a Stye?
Eye styes tend to be in the form or a small red bump under or on the eyelid, and they cause discomfort or pain. What has caused the bump to form is an infection of one of the lash follicles, which results in redness, swelling, and pain. Typically, you can diagnose a stye yourself due to its prominent appearance, but if you in a lot of pain and you are unsure, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor to have it checked out.
How Are Styes Treated?
Unfortunately, there is not a direct treatment for eye styes, though there are some courses of action that can be taken to minimize the pain and discomfort that you are experiencing. For instance, if you wear makeup, you should avoid placing it on your eyes, since it can cause the buildup of bacteria to worsen and irritate the infection that much more. In the event that you wear contacts, you should wear eyeglasses until the stye has cleared up completely so that you are not touching the stye. You can relieve the pain with over-the-counter medications, but it is a good idea to talk to your eye doctor for recommendations on what medications to use for optimal results.
How Can Styes Be Prevented?
Like most infections, styes are 100 percent avoidable. Styes are generally caused by a buildup of bacteria in the lash follicle, which leads to an infection that you will notice pretty quickly. Ideally, the most effective way to prevent eye styes is to make sure that you are staying on top of your hygiene. You should go through a daily face-washing routine and attempt to avoid touching your eyes as much as possible throughout the day. If you fail to wash your face or constantly touch your eyes, you may result in bacteria building up, which increases your overall risk of a stye developing.
If you have any further questions or believe that an eye stye is developing, get in touch with an eye doctor as soon as possible.
