What is it about ?
The eyelids contain glands that produce sebum (sebaceous glands).
a stye is an infected sebaceous gland. The most common germ is Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria common on the skin. In addition to the official term “stye”, we also speak of hordéole, oriole or barley grain.
When a gland’s duct becomes blocked, sebum can be found in nearby tissues, forming a lump (lipogranuloma) in the thickness of the eyelid. This is called a chalazion. The chalazion can be purulent, or if it is large in size, it can put pressure on the cornea of the eye and temporarily impair vision. The eyeball is then deformed (astigmatism) and suddenly, the image too.
What is its frequency?
We don’t have exact figures for Belgium, but in the Netherlands around 5 in 1,000 people have a chalazion or a stye. They are more common in children and young adults. The ailments are both common. They also often reappear, in the same place or in the other eyelid. A chalazion can develop into a stye and vice versa.
How to recognize them?
a stye causes local swelling, redness and pain felt when the eye blinks or pressing on the eyelid. An external stye develops on the edge of the eyelid and contains yellowish pus. An internal stye can develop into a hard subcutaneous nodule in the upper eyelid (chalazion). In principle, it is not painful. It is often found in the middle or at the base of the eyelid. Sometimes there are several chalazions on both eyelids.
How can the doctor recognize them?
Based on your story and a physical examination, the doctor will distinguish between other possible diagnoses, such as an infection of the lacrimal glands or a suspicion of eyelid tumors. He will often refer you to an ophthalmologist.
You are more at risk of developing a stye or chalazion if you:
- suffer from dry eyes (often in people with systemic or autoimmune disease);
- suffer from a long-lasting infection at the edge of the eyelid;
- have seborrheic eczema;
In addition, the hormonal balance influences the composition of sebum.
If you develop several styes and / or chalazia at an advanced age or if they develop in unusual places or are atypical, the doctor will be all the more attentive to the possible presence of a tumor of the sebaceous glands.
What can you do ?
In case of complaints, consult the doctor. Follow its treatment instructions carefully.
Do not rub your hands too much over your eyes. Use your own towel if you have an eye infection. If you have a chalazion, applying a warm, damp washcloth, or even better a compress, to your eyelid can provide relief, for example 4 times a day for 10 to 15 minutes. If you have the oily eyelids and you have recurring infections at the edge of the eyelids, you can degrease them with baby shampoo. By doing this, you reduce the risk of obstruction at the exit of the glands in the eyelids, and therefore prevent the formation of a stye.
Do not wear contact lenses until the infection is completely gone.
What can your doctor do?
The doctor can explain the usually mild course of the infection to you.
THE’stye often goes away spontaneously; it is therefore a question of being patient. If there is no improvement, the doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotic drops (eye drops) to be applied locally. It is possible to incise a purulent stye, if it is very painful, using an injection needle.
a chalazion Usually goes away on its own after a while, although it initially seems to get bigger. Otherwise, it can be removed surgically. If the doctor has experience, he may try to inject cortisone into the chalazion. If a chalazion develops after middle age or is atypical, a biopsy is done to rule out a malignant tumor. If a chalazion remains present for more than 3 months, if it is atypical, or if it reappears chronically, the doctor will refer you to an ophthalmologist.
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