Stye & Chalazion

Stye                                                                                                                                     Everyone hates a stye over their eyelid! They often appear at the wrong time, cause considerable pain and disruption in your daily routine, and not to mention, visibly spoil your good looks! Have you ever wondered why do we get these stye/nodules over our eyelids? 

What is a Stye, and what causes it?                                                                                               A stye is simply a sudden painful nodule over your eyelid, that is caused by bacterial infection. The oil glands in your eyelid may get blocked, and the pent-up secretions get infected to form a stye. It is often sudden in onset, and extremely painful. The eyelid may simply be red and swollen, or you may sometimes see a yellow spot indicating pus-pointing. People who have Blepharitis, rosasea, or even dry eyes are more prone to get these nodules. Although most styes are harmless and will heal on their own in about a week, if you've ever had one, you know what a nuisance these red eyelid lumps can be.  

Treatment of a Stye                                                                                                               Visiting your eye specialist is the best way t odeal with it. However, there are a few home remedies that may help you get rid of a stye a little faster, or at least begin the healing process before you meet your doctor.  Cleaning your eyelids with a cotton bud, using diluted baby shampoo is a good start.  Pre-moistened eyelid cleansing pads are another option. Stop wearing eye makeup temporarily, and  discard old makeup or applicators that could be contaminated. You can encourage a stye to heal faster by applying warm compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, three or four times a day. Dip a clean washcloth in warm water, wring it, and then place it over your closed eyes. Alternatively, if you are a Tea/Coffee drinker, hold your fingers around the cup until warm, and place them on your closed eyelids. The warmth from the compress often will allow the stye to open, drain and heal faster. Over-the-counter painkillers can reduce your pain if a stye is particularly bothersome. Your eye doctor may also advise oral antibiotics, an eye ointment or even a short procedure to open a large stye to relieve discomfort and prevent a serious infection.

Preventing a Stye                                                                                                                   Proper eyelid hygiene can significantly reduce the risk of styes. Clean your eyelids thoroughly before bedtime, especially if you wear eye makeup. Also, if you have Blepharitis, taking the steps required to treat this eyelid problem also will help prevent the occurrence of styes. 

Chalazion                                                                                                                               Nodule (chalazion) over their eyelid?! It often appear at the wrong time, may cause discomfort or heaviness, and not to mention, spoils your good looks! You must have wondered why me ?! Well, here's some useful information!   

What is a Chalazion, and what causes it?                                                                                       A chalazion is simply a nodule arising within eyelid tissue, following a bacterial infection. The oil glands in your eyelid may get blocked, and the pent-up secretions get infected. The infection may subside, but excess tissue reaction leaves behind a nodule. If small, it may fade away, but usually they stay along as a painless nodule. This of you who have Blepharitis, rosacea (a skin condition), dry eyes or even diabetes are more prone to get these nodules. 

Treatment of a Chalazion                                                                                                               A chalazion does not affect your vision or eye function. Most patients desire treatment for cosmetic reasons, and rightly so: it isn't a beauty spot afterall!                                              There are the 3 standard methods available to treat these nodules. The first one (medications and warm compresses) is something you can do at home, whereas for the other two, you'll need to consult an eye-plastic surgeon:          1) Medical treatment: It is simplest and safest, but only has a 50-70% cure rate. Moreover, treatment takes weeks-months.                                                                                                      2) Steroid injection: It is non-surgical, but with a 70-80% cure rate. It takes 2-4 weeks for the chalazion to reduce. Rarely, more than 1 injection may be needed.                                             3) Curettage surgery: It is a minor surgery, with 95-100% cure rate. Reduction in nodule size takes 1-2 weeks.   

Preventing a Chalazion                                                                                                              Any treatment for chalazion only cures the existing ones. In order the prevent new ones from appearing, follow these preventive measures:                                                                              1) Lid hygiene:  Cleaning your eyelids with a cotton bud, using diluted baby shampoo is a good start.  Pre-moistened eyelid cleansing pads is another (but expensive) option. Proper lid hygiene can significantly reduce the risk of styes.                                                                                      2) Stop wearing eye makeup temporarily, and  discard old makeup or applicators that could be contaminated.  Clean your eyelids thoroughly before bedtime.                                                   3) Warm compresses: You can help the eyelid oil glands to empty their secretions by applying warm compresses. Dip a clean washcloth in warm water, wring it, and then place it over your closed eyes. Alternatively, if you are a Tea/Coffee drinker, hold your fingers around the cup until warm, and place them on your closed eyelids. The warmth from the compress often will allow the glands to open, drain and heal faster. Do this approximately 3-4 times a day, for 5-10 minutes each.