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A stye is a painful red bump that appears on the edge of your eyelid that is caused by an eyelash becoming infected or clogged with makeup, dirt, or some other type of debris. Styes are usually caused when an oil gland in your eyelid becomes inflamed due to getting blocked up. Eye care for styes and other similar eye issues is not overly complicated, but it is useful to understand what it is that you can do in order to prevent them.
Styes are very common, but can be painful, annoying, and unattractive. Usually they will go away on their own, but they also may return without the proper eye care treatments. In some cases, an individual may require help from medical professionals to get a stye removed and to prevent future styes.
Use Proper Eye Care Cleaning Habits
The first and most obvious way to take care of your eyes and any potential styes that may appear is to practice proper eye care cleaning habits. Because styes, chalazions, and other eye issues are often caused by improper eye care, keeping your eyelids clean is vital. Make sure to use a sensitive soap, such as baby shampoo, and a warm washcloth to gently clean your eyelids every evening.
Completely Remove Makeup
If you wear makeup, you could potentially be at risk of getting a stye. Makeup that is left on your eyes is a common reason why a stye forms. Ensure that you remove all makeup and dirt that has collected throughout the day. If a stye appears, then make sure to keep your lids properly clean as you would without a stye. It is also important to replace makeup every six months or so because old makeup can also plug the follicles of your eyelashes and eyelids.
Refrain From Touching Your Eyes
If you are prone to getting styes or chalazions, then it is extremely important to try not to touch your eyes. Touching your eyes can spread the infection from one eye to the other and can irritate the eyelid, causing other styes to form or for the styes to grow larger. This is especially true if your hands are dirty. Make sure that when you care for your eyelids, you use clean hands. It is also important to note that if you wear contact lenses that you should try to wear glasses while the stye is healing or clean the lenses after each use, as lenses can transfer the infection.
For more information about contact lenses and glasses or to find the perfect lenses for you, reach out to us at Wolcott Optical.
Use At-Home Treatments
As previously mentioned, styes typically will go away on their own over time. However, there is a way to help a stye get better quicker. Using a warm washcloth, press against the stye gently for about 10 minutes. Do this three to four times a day. The warmth and moisture from the washcloth will help unclog the eyelash follicles. This method can be used at home, and can be repeated as many times as necessary.
See A Doctor
In some circumstances, styes may be caused by underlying skin conditions. In these cases, it is vital to see a doctor. An eye doctor can give you more information about potential causes of your styes, give you more eye care tips, and prescribe medications that could be useful for your condition. If your stye becomes large, is affecting your vision, or is sticking around for more than a week, it may be time to see your doctor. Lastly, a doctor can safely and hygienically drain a stye that is extra stubborn.
