Styes

A stye is an acute infection of an oil gland of the eyelid. There are two types of oil glands in the eyelids. Those associated with eyelash follicles are called the Zeis glands and those in the fibrous tarsus of the eyelid are the meibomiam glands. Either type of oil gland can become infected and form a stye.

Styes may occur when the oil gland duct becomes blocked. The obstruction is the result of an oil secretion which is too waxy and solid, and lacking the normal fluidity. Bacteria, which would normally be flushed out of the oil gland duct, may then gain a foothold and lead to infection. Often the bacteria that are associated with styes are normal, non-pathogenic skin flora that can become pathogenic when they are trapped in the waxy oil secretions. A common misconception is that styes are caused by an external contagious source, when in fact, their cause has much more to do with the skin type of the individual.

Symptoms and Treatment

The symptoms include swelling, redness and tenderness of the involved eyelid. Usually styes are self-limited and will resolve in a few days. Sometimes the stye can become a pus-filled abscess and require intensive hot compress therapy and oral and topical antibiotic treament. Antibiotics often do not penetrate well into this type of infection and, when the abcess is pointing, it is best treated by incising the lesion and draining its contents.

A stye that becomes a nodular lump that is persisting over a period of weeks is called a chalazion. This is a result of the oil gland breaking which causes a chronic inflammatory reaction in the eyelid. Chalazia are fairly common, and if they are sufficiently bothersome to the patient, can be removed with a minor surgical procedure performed in an office setting.