An eye stye is a small, red, and often painful swelling that occurs on the eyelid. Medically known as a hordeolum, this condition is usually caused by a bacterial infection and develops as a result of a blockage of the oil glands in the eyelid. While a stye often resolves on its own, in some cases it can become chronic, necessitating surgery .

Stye Symptoms and Diagnosis

A stye is a painful and distressing condition that can disrupt a person's daily life. Symptoms of a stye typically begin with pain and tenderness in the eyelid, followed by swelling and redness. Some styes may also cause watering, fullness in the eyelids, or nodules. Blurred vision can also be a symptom in some cases.

These symptoms occur because the oil glands in the eyelid become infected or blocked. A stye can be easily diagnosed with an examination by an ophthalmologist. However, sometimes more detailed tests may be necessary to rule out more serious conditions such as cysts, swellings, or tumors.

What are the Types of Styes?

A stye is an eyelid infection and usually occurs as a result of inflammation caused by bacteria. Styes are divided into two types:

• External Stye (Hordeolum Externum)

It occurs due to infection of the eyelash follicles in the eyelid. It appears as a painful, swollen lump on the outer edge of the eyelid. Redness and tenderness are intense. Over time, an abscess may form, and the pus may drain.

It can be treated with warm compresses and, if necessary, antibiotic eye drops or cream.

• Internal Stye (Hordeolum Internum)

It occurs due to infection of the meibomian glands in the eyelid. It causes a painful swelling on the inside of the eyelid. It is usually located deeper within the eyelid and can have more serious effects than an external stye. It can sometimes cause the eyelid to become unable to open or close properly due to the swelling.

Warm compresses and hygiene can help relieve symptoms. In more severe cases, medical attention is necessary.

If a stye doesn't heal completely and the inflammation becomes chronic and forms a hard cyst, it 's called a chalazion . A chalazion is usually painless, but it can be cosmetic and visually disturbing. If it doesn't shrink with warm compresses, surgery may be necessary.

To prevent styes, it's recommended to maintain eye hygiene and remove makeup regularly. If styes recur frequently, there may be an underlying condition, and an ophthalmologist should be consulted.

How is Stye Surgery Performed?

A stye can usually be treated with warm compresses, antibiotic drops, or creams. However, in some cases, these traditional treatments may be insufficient. If the stye doesn't resolve over time, it can develop into a sebaceous cyst and cause discomfort in the eyelid. In this case, surgery is necessary. Furthermore, if the stye grows very large, affects vision, or if the swelling causes cosmetic discomfort, surgery can resolve these issues.

Stye surgery is generally a simple and quick procedure. Performed under local anesthesia, this surgical procedure does not require hospitalization and does not disrupt the patient's routine.

The stages of surgery are as follows:

1. Preparation: The eyelid is sterilized and local anesthesia is applied.
2. Incision: Depending on the location of the stye, a small incision is made on the inside or outside of the eyelid.
3. Drainage: Infected tissue and accumulated fluid are carefully removed.
4. Closure: The incision usually does not require stitches and heals on its own.

How long does stye surgery take? The surgery can take approximately 20-30 minutes in total, and the patient is usually discharged the same day.

Post-Stye Surgery Care

Recovery time after stye surgery is short, and complications are generally not expected. However, as with any surgical procedure, certain precautions must be taken. It is crucial to keep the eyelid clean after surgery, use antibiotic drops or creams regularly, avoid touching or rubbing the surgical area, and attend follow-up appointments on time.

Eye stye surgery offers an effective solution for frequently recurring or increasingly bothersome styes. Because it's a simple and quick procedure, it can significantly improve patients' quality of life. If you experience a stye, contact us immediately for a quality treatment experience . Choose Özel Magnet Hospital and learn about the most appropriate treatment options from our expert physicians.