A stye (or sty), medically known as a hordeolum, is a small, painful lump on the inner or outer surface of the eyelid. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection, most often involving Staphylococcus bacteria, which infects an oil gland or an eyelash follicle near the base of the eyelashes. There are two main types of styes:
- External styes, which appear as bumps along the edge of the eyelid and are more common.
- Internal styes, which occur inside the eyelid and tend to be more painful.
Symptoms of a stye include redness, swelling, tenderness or pain, a small lump that may resemble a pimple, a yellow or white spot in the center, crusting on the eyelid, and sometimes tearing or irritation in the eye. Styes typically go away on their own within a few days to a couple of weeks. Warm compresses applied several times a day can help relieve symptoms and speed healing. Styes are generally not serious and rarely cause complications, though in some cases, an eye care provider may need to treat them if they do not resolve or cause severe discomfort. It is important not to try to burst or squeeze a stye to avoid spreading the infection. Good hygiene, such as washing hands regularly and avoiding touching the eyes, can help prevent styes. In summary, a stye is a common, usually harmless, painful bump on the eyelid caused by a localized bacterial infection of an oil gland or eyelash follicle.
