Do your eyelids frequently develop red and painful bumps? This condition, called a stye, occurs when an eyelash follicle or pore in your skin gets blocked, allowing bacteria to accumulate and cause an infection.
Styes usually aren’t serious, but they can be uncomfortable and affect your vision.
At Michigan Eye and Contact Lens Clinic 2020 Family Vision, with locations in Novi, Lake Orion, Farmington Hills, and Ypsilanti, Michigan, experienced optometrist Tiffany Zair-Yalda, OD, and our team specialize in stye treatment.
Here, she explains common risk factors, provides tips for prevention, and explains how to manage styes at home.
Styes affect people of all ages and races, but certain groups are more likely to develop them than others. You’re more at risk for a stye if you have:
Hormones can also play a role. Fluctuations in hormone levels can boost oil production in the glands of your eyelids, which may lead to blockages and inflammation, increasing the likelihood of styes.
The good news is that even if you regularly experience styes, you can reduce the risk of recurrences. A few simple practices can help.
We recommend:
If you frequently experience styes, applying warm compresses a few times a week can also help with prevention. Soak a washcloth in warm water and place it over your eyes for 10-15 minutes to help prevent blockages and keep your eyelids clear.
Sometimes preventive steps aren’t enough to stop styes from forming. If you end up getting one, at-home treatments can often provide relief.
For an active stye, applying a warm compress several times daily can help it drain naturally, easing pain and inflammation. Gently clean your affected eyelid with mild soap or eyelid wipes to reduce bacterial growth and take an over-the-counter pain medication, like ibuprofen, if necessary.
Whatever you do, never try to pop or pick at a stye because it can irritate the growth and worsen symptoms.
Most styes improve with conservative and at-home care. But if the stye lasts for more than a week, affects your vision, or is painful, don’t wait to contact us.
Call the nearest office today to make an appointment, or book your visit online. We can prescribe an antibiotic ointment or drain the stye if needed.
