That tender, red bump on your eyelid can be a real nuisance. If you’ve noticed that you tend to get styes during stressful times, you might wonder if the two are connected. While stress can weaken the immune system, it is not an established risk factor for styes.
Our team at Tutt Street Optometry is here to help you learn about styes, their symptoms and causes, and how to distinguish them from other common eye conditions.
What Is a Stye & What Causes It?
You can think of a stye as a small, painful pimple that forms on or inside your eyelid. Styes happen when an oil gland along your lash line gets clogged with bacteria and becomes infected. They’re very common and usually clear up on their own, but they can be quite uncomfortable.
Common Stye Symptoms
The symptoms of styes often include:
- A red, sore lump on the edge of your eyelid
- Swelling around the bump
- A gritty feeling—like sand is in your eye
- Tenderness or eyelid pain
Other Risk Factors
Several things can make you more prone to getting styes. Not washing your eyelashes thoroughly, using old mascara, or leaving makeup on overnight can create an inflammatory environment in the eyelid structures, promoting styes. Certain skin conditions, contact lens wear, and possibly even your diet may impact the frequency of styes.
Is It a Stye or Something Else?
Sometimes, other eye issues can look like a stye. Understanding the difference can help you figure out what’s going on with your eye.
Stye vs. Chalazion
A chalazion is a hardened stye that is no longer infectious. Unlike an infectious stye, a chalazion usually doesn’t cause eyelid discomfort. It is much more difficult to heal a chalazion; sometimes they need to be excised by an ophthalmologist, so it’s important to start treatment immediately if you notice a stye.
What You Can Do for a Stye at Home
Apply Warm Compresses
Heat a bean bag to about 40 degrees Celsius, and hold it gently over your closed eye for about 10 minutes. You can do this three to four times a day to help the clogged gland open up and drain. A proper warm compress can provide significant relief and is available from your optometry office. Medicine may be used in some cases to help the stye heal.
Keep the Area Clean
Carefully clean your eyelid with mild, eye-safe soap and water or with eyelid wipes available at your optometrist’s office. This helps wash away bacteria and any crusting.
Do Not Squeeze Your Stye
It can be tempting, but you should never try to pop a stye. Squeezing it can spread the infection across your eyelid and make things worse.
In-office treatments
In-office treatments like the plasma pen are available as an option to help heal your stye.
How to Help Prevent Styes
While styes are common and sometimes unavoidable, a few simple habits can help reduce your risk of developing them.
You can lower your risk by:
- Replace eye makeup regularly, especially mascara and eyeliner, which can harbour bacteria over time
- Remove makeup before going to bed to prevent clogged oil glands
- Wash your hands before touching your eyes, especially when inserting or removing contact lenses
- Clean contact lenses properly and follow recommended replacement schedules
- Avoid rubbing your eyes, which can transfer bacteria to the eyelid area
If you experience frequent styes, your optometrist may recommend a regular eyelid hygiene routine or specialized eyelid cleansers to help keep the glands healthy.
Developing these small daily habits can make a meaningful difference in supporting long-term eyelid health and reducing the chances of recurrent styes.
When to Visit an Eye Doctor in Kelowna
It’s a good idea to see an optometrist quickly if you notice a stye, to avoid persistent chalazions – especially if your symptoms don’t start to improve after 1-2 days, or if there is eyelid swelling or any discharge noted. If you have a stye that affects your vision or causes significant pain, our team at Tutt Street Optometry can help. A visit to your eye doctor in Kelowna can provide peace of mind and a treatment plan to help your eye heal properly.
