What is a Stye and How to Prevent Them

The eyes are one of the more delicate organs in the human body, which means it’s no surprise that there are plenty of health issues that can occur. Some are more serious than others, which is why it is always a good idea to learn about some of the more common eye health issues and what they mean so that you can avoid overreacting. A stye occurs on the inside or outside of your eye and often resembles a pimple or acne. It can be concerning to realize that you have a stye, but the truth is that it isn’t usually a serious issue. Below, we are going to walk you through what a stye is in detail and let you know how you can prevent them.

What is a Stye?

A stye is a small pimple-like growth that usually shows up on the inside or the outside of your eye. Also known as a hordeolum, a stye is an infection that results in a blocked oil gland or follicle in your eyelash. The infection can be contagious, which means it is important to be extra careful if you are dealing with a stye so that you don’t infect others. The good news is that although a stye can be uncomfortable and concerning, they are usually harmless and will go away on their own. If you have a stye, stay calm and reach out to your eye doctor if you need immediate assistance.

How to Deal with Styes

Even though a stye looks a lot like a pimple, you should avoid trying to pop it or treat it like you normally would treat a pimple. This can lead to the spread of the bacteria that caused the stye which will potentially make the situation worse. Instead, just take it easy and let the stye go away on its own. Try to avoid touching your eyes until the stye goes away. The body is a powerful force when dealing with bacterial infections, so let the stye run its course naturally. If you don’t notice an improvement for several weeks or if the infection appears to be getting worse, you can always reach out to AV Eyecare for assistance.

Everyone deals with styes from time to time. Since they aren’t that serious, most people don’t have information about how to avoid them entirely. One of the best things you can do to avoid dealing with styes altogether is to focus on maintaining good hygiene, especially around your eyes. Always wash your hands before touching the area around your eyes and make sure you are removing any eye makeup every single day to avoid bacterial infections around your eyes. We hope this article has been informative and that you know exactly what to do the next time you get a stye. Reach out to AV Eyecare today if you have any more questions about your eye health or if you’d like to schedule an eye exam.