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Eye stye - Treatment and Remedies

An Eye Stye is a common infection of the hair follicle of an eyelash, resembling a sore similar to a boil or a pimple in the gland at the edge of the eyelid which leads to blockage of the hair follicles that may become swollen, nuisance and painful to the touch. An Eye stye occurs when staphylococcal bacteria infect one of the tiny glands at the base of the eyelid hairs and then becomes inflamed. An infection bacterium is frequently transferred from one hair shaft to another when rubbing it to relieve itching.

Unless the swelling blocks vision, a stye do not affect vision and their symptoms include pain in the eye or in the eyelid, discomfort when blinking, sensitivity to light, swelling of the eyelid, blurred vision and redness or tearing of the eyelid. In most cases, a tiny pimple is present. An Eyes Stye develops in 3 to 7 days; usually fills with pus then burst spontaneously healing on their own when the infection drains. Pain and swelling subsides when the pressure is relieved.

This disease appears due to debilitated condition of the system. A diagnosis by a physician is not required but advisable because a chalazion can be mistaken for a stye. Chalazion is a non-bacterial lump on the eyelid caused by a blocked mucous gland under the eye. Your physician may examine your eyelid to determine the cause of the infection. This condition may also appear as result from blocking of the gland by dirt or due to error of refraction.

An Eye stye can be treated at home by applying very warm compresses for about ten minutes at each time, 3 to 4 times daily, using a wet, clean wash cloth to the tender area. This treatment will aid in the suppuration of the stye; suppuration refers to the forming of a head on an infection and the heat from compresses speeds up the white blood cells to fight the infection. Your physician may prescribe the applications of antibiotic drops or antibiotic cream for the stye. If you have frequent styes, the prescription of an antibiotic ointment will prevent the recurrence

Home Remedies for the Treatment of Eye Stye

- Rub clove spice in water and apply it over the stye to relief pain.

- Use a grated potato as a poultice to reduce swelling in inflamed eyes.

- Slit an aloe leaf lengthwise and place the pulpy side on the sore eye.

- Boil 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds with a cupful of water like an herbal tea preparation to wash the eyes 3-4 times a day.

- 1 teaspoon of turmeric in 2 cups of water until it reduces in half. Cool and strain 4-5 times through a fine muslin. Apply as eye drops 3-4 times a day

- Take a cup of water. Dissolve 2-3 granules of alum in it. Use as an eyewash.

- Guava leaves, warmed and placed on a warm damp cloth, and then used as a compress; reduce the redness, pain and swelling.

- Boil a handful of acacia leaves in two cups of water to make a decoction and apply it as compress on the eyelids

In rare cases, surgical drainage of the stye may be necessary if the stye is not responding to treatment or the infection is recurrent.

There are also a wide range of non-prescription products and topical medications for an eye stye, mostly made up of petroleum jelly and other emollients to keep the eye moisturized. These medications are useful to relieve the pain and stop the tearing, redness, itching, burning and stinging, but cannot treat the infection associated with the eye stye.

Eye Stye Tips

As preventive measures, never put your fingers in your infected eye because your hands are full of germs, and allow the eyes styes rupture on its own. Never ever "pop" a stye like a pimple because it may cause the infection to spread or transfer from one eye to another. Many eye infections are contagious, and eye styes do require a high standard of hygiene. The best advise to no sharing of eyes-makeup, towels or face cloths is and during insertion and removal of contact lens be sure to use good hygiene practices.