Stye | |
---|---|
Other names | Sty, hordeolum[1] |
An external stye on the upper eyelid | |
Pronunciation |
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Specialty | Ophthalmology, optometry |
Symptoms | Red tender bump at the edge of the eyelid[1] |
Usual onset | Any age[2] |
Duration | Few days or weeks[3] |
Causes | bacterial infection by Staphylococcus aureus[3] |
Differential diagnosis | Chalazion[4] |
Treatment | Warm compresses, antibiotic eye ointment[5][6] |
A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a bacterial infection of an oil gland in the eyelid.[4] This results in a red tender bump at the edge of the eyelid.[1][5] The outside or the inside of the eyelid can be affected.[3]
The cause of a stye is usually a bacterial infection by Staphylococcus aureus.[3][6] Internal styes are due to infection of the meibomian gland while external styes are due to an infection of the gland of Zeis.[5] A chalazion on the other hand is a blocked meibomian gland without infection.[4] A chalazion is typically in the middle of the eyelid and not painful.[5]
Often a stye will go away without any specific treatment in a few days or weeks.[3] Recommendations to speed improvement include warm compresses.[5] Occasionally antibiotic eye ointment may be recommended.[6] While these measures are often recommended, there is little evidence for use in internal styes.[3] The frequency at which styes occur is unclear, though they may occur at any age.[2]