A stye, or hordeolum, is the effect of an oil gland infection that occurs on the edge of the eyelid.
This happens after staphylococcus bacteria, a bacterium usually found in the nose, makes contact with the eye.
A stye looks similar to a pimple and it can grow either inside or outside of the eye. The most common symptoms of a stye are pain, swelling and redness.
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If you have a stye, it’s best to let it go away on its own. Unfortunately, rubbing a gold ring on your eye will not make it disappear.
Popping it, as you would a pimple, may cause further infection. It’s best to apply light pressure to the effected area with a warm towel a few times a day until it goes away.
Most styes last for only a couple of days.
If it lasts longer than a few days, you may need to visit your eye doctor. In most cases, the optometrist will either prescribe an antibiotic ointment or drain the stye.
While styes rarely cause vision impairments, they are contagious. So, if you have a stye, be sure not to share anything that has made contact with the affected area. This includes pillowcases, makeup, towels, etc.
Both pinkeye and eye styes can be prevented by frequently washing your hands and avoiding contact with personal items that belong to someone else, such as a washcloth or makeup.
In both cases, it’s best to avoid wearing makeup or contact lenses until the eye has healed.
Thoroughly clean or replace items that may have been in contact with your eye when the infection began if you plan to continue using them after the infection has healed.