Posted by: Aker Kasten Eye Center in Eye Health on March 15, 2019
Though some eye conditions come about as a result of genetics, we really dislike those that come from our own forgetfulness or wrongdoing. Nothing is worse than an eye injury from not wearing safety goggles while working outside or playing sports. Thankfully, not all preventable problems are cause for concern, though they can definitely be annoying as they heal. Keep reading to learn about one of the most annoying eye problems: the stye.
Generally, a stye arrives when the area at the base of your eyelashes or a gland along your eyelid becomes irritated with bacteria (usually staphylococci) and causes a clog in the pore. Staphylococci normally exist on the skin of our eyes, so don’t worry about uncleanliness issues just yet. The problem starts when this bacteria gets trapped along with dead skin cells on the edge of the eyelid. After a day or so, you might notice a red bump on the outside or inside of your eyelid along with other symptoms like light sensitivity, watery eyes, and tenderness.
Certain things can increase the chances of getting a stye. Blowing your nose or coming in contact with mucus, and then touching your eye can spread bacteria. Using older cosmetics like eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, or even older face products like face washes and cleansing masks can transfer unwanted bacteria to the eye as well.
One easy way to prevent styes is to properly disinfect your contact lenses every day, and switch out the solution in the case every day. Some people get styes more frequently than others, and poor diet and stress have been linked to more stye occurrences in some people. Try to lower your stress through exercise or meditation, eat better, high quality foods, and keep your eyes clean by not touching them needlessly. A small amount of baby shampoo on a washcloth or cotton swab might help keep your eyes clean of bacteria, and prevent more styes from cropping up.
If you have a stye that is getting worse or is affecting your vision, call us today at (561) 338-7722 to schedule a consultation