Stye on the Eye: Causes and Why It Appears

A stye on the eye is a small painful formation on the eyelid or inside the eyelid that many people are familiar with. Below, calmly and in order, we explain what causes a stye, why some people get it more often, and in which cases you cannot do without a doctor.

What a stye is and how it forms

A stye, or hordeolum, is an acute purulent inflammation of the hair follicle of an eyelash or of the sebaceous gland of Zeis, located at the root of the eyelash. An internal stye is distinguished separately, when a lobule of the meibomian gland becomes inflamed — a gland within the thickness of the eyelid that produces an oily fluid to lubricate the eye. Both forms occur in adults and in children.

A painful, circumscribed swelling, edema, and redness appear on the edge of the eyelid. After two to four days, a yellowish head forms at the apex. More often one eye is affected, but there may be several formations at once or on both eyes. Usually a stye resolves within a week.

• pain and tenderness in the area of the formation;
• redness and swelling of the eyelid, sometimes of the surrounding skin;
• tearing and redness of the eye itself;
• vision should not be affected.

If there is no lump but the eyelid is swollen, red, and tearing, it is more often a matter of conjunctivitis or blepharitis — inflammation of the eyelid margin. If the formation is dense but almost painless, a chalazion caused by blockage of the gland duct is more likely.

Main causes: infection and blockage of the eyelid gland

The cause of a stye is a bacterial infection; in 90–95 percent of cases it is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The microbe enters the eyelash hair follicle or the eyelid gland, and purulent inflammation develops there. More often this happens with weakened immunity, for example after colds.

The second cause is blockage of the meibomian gland duct. When the outflow of oily fluid is impaired, the gland becomes denser and a chalazion forms. It often develops after an internal stye: the redness and swelling subside, but a dense nodule remains in the eyelid.

You must not squeeze out the pus or open a stye yourself: this way the infection can spread toward the orbit, and that means orbital cellulitis, thrombosis of the cavernous sinus of the brain, and meningitis.

Factors that increase the risk of a stye

Predisposing circumstances include general chilling of the body, endocrine disorders, and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. A separate place is occupied by the condition of the eyelids: demodicosis, that is, infestation by the mite, and blepharitis. People with long-standing blepharitis or rosacea get sick more often.

Hygiene also plays a role: dirty hands, the habit of rubbing the eyes, shared towels and cosmetics.

Why a stye can appear repeatedly

People with recurrent styes need a thorough examination to identify a possible cause and predisposing factors; long-standing blepharitis and rosacea, demodicosis, and weakened immunity predispose to more frequent styes. A chalazion can also return after treatment.

At an appointment, the doctor examines the eyelid, and the diagnosis is usually confirmed precisely by examination. In rare cases, a malignant tumor of the eyelid skin looks similar, and then a biopsy may be needed — taking a piece of tissue for examination.

When to see a doctor for a stye

You should see a doctor if a stye does not resolve within several weeks. An urgent consultation is needed when it is very painful or severely swollen, when vision has worsened, when there is pus coming from the eye or the infection has spread to the eye and eyelid. Usually vision is not affected; if it has worsened — see a doctor urgently. Headaches, an increase in body temperature with general malaise, and enlargement of the nearby lymph nodes are also reasons for a visit.

The doctor may open the stye with a thin sterile needle, remove the eyelash at the formation, or refer you to an eye specialist in a hospital.

A stye by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. The numbers 103 and 112 are needed if, while attempting to squeeze out the pus, the infection spreads toward the orbit and signs of damage to the meninges appear.

Once again about the main points: a stye is an infection of the eyelash hair follicle or the eyelid gland; it occurs more often with blepharitis, rosacea, demodicosis, or weakened immunity. This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation: the decision on examination and treatment is made by a specialist.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer