Dear Doctor Column, April 11, 2005

Stye Caused by Bacterial Infection

Question:

For the past couple of weeks, my son has been waking up with a stye on his eye. They are painful and look horrible. What is causing this? How can we prevent them?

Answer:

A stye is caused by an infection in the sebaceous (oil producing) or sweat glands in the base of an eyelash follicle and occurs more often in children than in adults.

A stye is similar to a pimple or a boil and forms at the edge of the eyelid. More than one stye can occur at a time or several appear in succession.

Styes usually develop over a few days then drain spontaneously. The release of pus relieves one major symptom of styes — pain. Other symptoms may include tearing, a foreign body sensation, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.

The symptoms of a stye may resemble other conditions or medical problems. For instance, a chalazion — a blockage in one of the small glands in the eyelid — can produce swelling similar to that of a stye. Since your son has had this problem for several weeks, consult your child's physician for a diagnosis and treatment.

Fortunately, most styes disappear in a few days. In the meantime, people can sometimes relieve the pain and discomfort of a stye with simple self-care treatments, such as applying warm, wet compresses for about 10 minutes several times throughout the day. Do not attempt to squeeze the stye; let it drain on its own. The doctor may prescribe antibiotic creams or eyedrops for recurrent or persistent styes. Occasionally, the doctor must lance a stye to drain the infection and relieve the pain.

Once the stye bursts on its own, keep the area clean and dry. Styes are not very contagious. Still, to minimize any risk of spreading this infection, encourage your son to keep his hands away from his eyes, practice good handwashing techniques, and avoid sharing washcloths and towels.