Sty Eye Infection

A sty can be painful and embarrassing. They look like big red boils, and appear on the inside or the edge of your eyelid. A sty can make it harder for you to see, because it doesn't allow you to completely open the affected eye. A condition called blepharitis occurs when you have multiple sties at the same time.

Causes

• Sties are caused by a bacterial infection, most often by a bacteria called staphylococcus. The infection usually begins near the follicle of your eyelash. Sties can be caused by wearing expired makeup or leaving your makeup on overnight. Contact wearers are more prone to sties because of the bacteria that gets transferred from their hands to the contact lenses. If you use contacts, be sure to disinfect your contact lenses and wash your hands thoroughly before putting them in.

Symptoms

• Sties are often filled with pus, which causes the pain experienced with a sty infection. You should feel better once the sty ruptures and releases the pus. Some other symptoms of sties are: swelling of the eyelid, pain, a scratchy sensation in your eye, sensitivity to light and watery eyes.

Diagnosis

• A sty in itself does not warrant a visit to the doctor's office. However, if you are experiencing multiple or recurring sties, you should consult with your doctor so he can rule out any underlying causes. Various conditions look like sties, so your doctor will be able to diagnose the problem correctly. If your doctor believes that what you're experiencing isn't a sty, he will most likely send you to an eye specialist, known as an ophthalmologist.

Treatment

• Your doctor may prescribe a topical antibiotic cream to apply to your eyelid if he determines that you are suffering from a sty. In some cases, the sty won't rupture on its own or with medication, and your doctor may elect to lance the sty and drain the pus out. This will take the pain and pressure away, giving you relief until the sty clears up completely. If your sty turns into a generalized infection of your eyelid, you may have to take oral antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

Home Remedies

• Several home remedies can ease the pain and swelling of your sty. As with any home remedy, you should consult with your doctor or ophthalmologist before attempting to treat the sty yourself. One home remedy that you can try is wetting a tea bag and placing it over the affected eye for 10 minutes, repeating with a new tea bag several times a day. To relieve pain, try soaking a clove in water and applying it to the infected eye.