What is Hordeolum (Stye)?
A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a common issue related to the eye that is often seen in regular health check-ups as well as emergency care situations. It’s a painful infection that comes on suddenly and affects the upper or lower eyelid. Typically, a stye appears as a tiny pimple on the edge of the eyelid. This makes it different from a chalazion, another type of eyelid condition, which usually causes less inflammation and tends to stick around longer.
What Causes Hordeolum (Stye)?
A hordeolum, often known as a stye, is a bacterial infection that affects the edge of the eyelid. In about 90% to 95% of cases, this infection is caused by a bacteria known as Staphylococcus aureus, with another kind of staph bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, being the second most common cause.
There are two types of hordeolum: an external hordeolum and an internal hordeolum. An external hordeolum is essentially a small pus-filled spot around an eyelash, while an internal hordeolum is an infection of the tiny oil glands within the eyelid.
A chalazion is another condition that causes swelling in your eyelid. It happens when the oil glands in the eyelid, known as the meibomian or Zeis glands, get blocked, causing them to become inflamed. This blockage can be sparked by the body’s reaction to oil (sebum) that’s released by these glands.
There are several things that can block the regular oil flow from these glands and hence lead to a chalazion. Common culprits include styes, rosacea (a skin condition that causes redness and small bumps), and blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelid rims.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Hordeolum (Stye)
Hordeola, a common eye condition, can affect people of all ages and from all places. However, it seems to occur a bit more often in people between 30 and 50 years old. This condition doesn’t favor any specific group of people around the world. Alongside this, if you have ongoing health issues like seborrhoeic dermatitis, diabetes, or high serum lipids, you might be more prone to getting hordeola.
Signs and Symptoms of Hordeolum (Stye)
Patients often report a painful, swollen, burning sensation on one of their eyelids, usually either the top or bottom eyelid. In some instances, the issue may start as a generalized swelling and redness on the eyelid that later becomes localized. Patients may also have a history of similar eyelid conditions. An external hordeolum, or stye, causes pain, swelling, and redness in a specific area of the eyelid that’s tender to touch. The stye typically looks like a pustule or small blister, with mild redness around the edge of the eyelid. There might be pus present.
An internal hordeolum causes more widespread tenderness and redness of the eyelid due to the relatively larger meibomian gland, which is involved. To identify this condition, the doctor might turn the eyelid inside out to reveal a small blister on the inner surface. The physical symptoms of an internal hordeolum can be similar to an external hordeolum, especially when the gland is infected but not blocked. Treatment for both is the same, so distinction between the two is not particularly important from a clinical standpoint.
Unlike hordeolum, or stye, chalazion is a condition that presents more slowly and persists over time. Patients usually complain of non-painful lumps on the eyelid with little to no surrounding redness. If a chalazion hangs around for a long time, chronic skin changes can develop around the underlying lumpy area.
Testing for Hordeolum (Stye)
To diagnose a stye (also known as hordeolum) or a chalazion, your doctor will just need to know your symptoms and do a physical examination. There’s no need for any diagnostic tests specifically for these conditions.
While it’s common to have non-dangerous bacteria present in these areas, taking cultures or samples from the discharge generally doesn’t help with determining the most effective treatment. It might be a bit tough for doctors to tell the difference between a new chalazion and an internal stye just based on the symptoms presented, but don’t worry! The good news is that the treatment method for both conditions is the same.
Treatment Options for Hordeolum (Stye)
A stye usually clears up on its own in a week or less. Both inside and outside styes are treated the same. To help speed up the recovery and to avoid spreading the infection, apply warm compresses and an antibiotic ointment known as erythromycin twice a day. Even though there’s not much proof these techniques work, applying erythromycin ointment for about a week to ten days is often suggested. You should apply a heated compress for about 15 minutes around four times a day. Some people suggest gently massaging the bump to help clear out any blockage. Oral antibiotics are not usually necessary unless the area around the stye is significantly red and there’s worry about an infection spreading around the eye. For really big styes where there’s a consideration to cut it open and drain it, it’s best to see an eye doctor. It’s good to have a check-up in 2 or 3 days to see how the treatment is going.
In terms of treating chalazia, or a lump on the eyelid, the best treatment is generally caring for it at home. Warm compresses and cleaning the affected area with a gentle soap like baby shampoo will usually be the only treatment required. Since the cause is inflammation and not infection, antibiotics are not necessary. For recurrent chalazion or those that won’t go away with home treatment, a corticosteroid injection into the lump or incision and curettage (a procedure to remove tissue) may be needed. You’ll need to see an eye doctor for these procedures. Patients with chalazia should see an eye doctor for a nonurgent evaluation.
What else can Hordeolum (Stye) be?
Possible medical conditions to look into could include the following:
- Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Chalazion
- Pneumo-Orbita
- Preseptal Cellulitis
- Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma
