Stye: Symptoms, Removal and Treatments in Singapore
What is a stye and how can you remove it?
A stye, also medically known as a hordeolum, is a painful and acute infection that occurs near the margin of the eyelid. It is caused by oil glands which are blocked on the eyelid. When the glands become blocked, bacteria can grow and infection occurs, causing a stye to form. A stye may appear as a red bump at the eyelid or as a pimple-like appearance filled with pus (abscess) and can be categorised as an internal or external stye.
An external stye is characterised by a visible abscess at a localised follicle of an eyelash caused by an acute infection in the lash follicle. On the other hand, an internal stye is characterised by an acute bacterial infection of the meibomian gland, which may appear less visible as it affects the deeper layer of the eyelid and is more visible when the eyelid is inverted. An internal stye is usually more painful and long-lasting than an external one.
There is an extensive list of symptoms for stye, but the more common symptoms include:
- A burning sensation
- Crusting on eyelids
- Eye discharge
- Tearing
- Foreign body sensation
- Scratchy feeling
- Soreness and itching
- Pain upon palpation (touch)
For an external stye, there is more localised tender swelling on the eyelid and pain, and you will see an abscess filled with pus at the eyelid margin. Symptoms of internal stye include:
- Erythema of the eyelid (skin redness caused by an inflammation condition)
- Diffuse swelling on the eyelid
- Diffuse pain
- Appears as a red bump or swelling on the eyelid
Another eye condition frequently mistaken as a stye is a chalazion. A chalazion is a non-infectious granulomatous inflammation in the eyelid, usually due to retained oil secretions in the meibomian gland from meibomian gland dysfunction. It is characterised by a chronic or persistent skin-coloured localised lump at the eyelid or eyelid margin and is usually painless. If the chalazion is large, it may obstruct vision or cause visual symptoms like blurred vision. An unresolved acute internal stye may become chronic or develop into a chalazion if left untreated.
Stye treatments in Singapore
A stye may resolve on its own in 1 to 2 weeks. However, an ophthalmologist may advise the below non-surgical treatment to promote healing:
- Lid hygiene (eyelid cleansing wipes)
- Warm compress
- Antibiotics
- Lash epilation
If the stye is large or not responding to non-surgical treatments, the ophthalmologist may recommend an incision and drainage procedure to remove the stye surgically. It is performed under local anaesthesia with numbing cream applied on the incision site. A surgical clamp will be selected based on the stye size and placed at the stye. A small incision is made at the skin of the stye and a probe is used to expel and drain the abscess. The ophthalmologist will thereafter prescribe a course of antibiotics eyedrop or ointment to aid in healing post-procedure.
Self-drainage of stye or self-epilation of the lash is not advisable as improper drainage may cause the infection to spread to the other ocular glands or tissue and cause a serious eye condition known as orbital cellulitis. It is best to seek professional help from an ophthalmologist if there is ocular pain with eye movement, swelling around the eye and on the eye (periorbital swelling), erythema and fever as these are signs of orbital cellulitis.
Schedule your consultation at Eye Max Centre
If you are experiencing stye issue in Singapore and would like to see an ophthalmologist, please contact Eye Max Centre at +65 6694 1000 or manager@eyemax.sg.
References:
https://journals.lww.com/cjrm/fulltext/2021/26020/the_occasional_eyelid_lesion.8.aspx
https://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4044.full
https://europepmc.org/article/NBK/nbk459349https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA147200378&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00224391&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Edcf33016&aty=open-web-entry
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sty/symptoms-causes/syc-20378017
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4/full
