How to Recognize Stye Symptoms

A stye may occur on either the inside or outside of your eyelid. Styes most often occur in children and the elderly but are found in people of all ages. They usually go away within a few days, but may reoccur due to accidental spreading of the bacteria that causes the infection. The symptoms tend to be easy to recognize, especially for people who experience them often.

Instructions

• 1

  Examine your eyelid and eyelashes closely to see whether they have become red or swollen. If you are experiencing symptoms of a stye, the areas of your eye may also feel warm to the touch. The first appearance of the stye itself is a small red bump similar in appearance to a pimple.

• 2

  Pay close attention to any discomfort you experience related to your vision. Your eyes may be especially sensitive to the light and may have trouble adjusting to dim lighting if you are displaying symptoms of a stye. You may also feel pain when blinking or squinting your eyes due to the swelling of your eye lids.

• 3

  Learn to recognize the physical appearance of the stye itself. A stye generally looks like a pimple with a small white or yellow point at the tip, which is usually filled with pus. The lump may also appear red and be painful when touched.

• 4

  Notice any abnormal physical sensations that you feel in or around your eyes. Your eyes may have a scratchy or gritty feeling as if you have something stuck in them, or they may feel itchy and overly dry. It's possible that your eyes may become watery and overly tender due to the excessive moisture in them.

• 5

  Distinguish between common styes and more severe types, which you may be able to recognize due to their physical appearances. Severe styes are usually yellow in color and may become so full of pus that they obstruct your vision or rupture on their own. It is also possible that a less severe stye may never form a tip, despite the pus that grows inside.