Symptoms of stye

Very easy to recognize, the stye is located on the inner edge or outside of the eyelid and owes its name to the Old English word ‘sty’ meaning ‘rising’ + eye, therefore stye.

The infected area is usually red, swollen and painful, then a yellowish pus tip appears in the centre of the stye. It generally bursts after a few days with a release of pus allowing the stye to then heal spontaneously.

 

If in doubt, a simple visit to a general practitioner will be sufficient to diagnose and treat the stye. 

• An intense pain in the eyelid, at the root of the eyelashes. 

•  Then a small red swelling centred on the base of an eyelash appears, which can sometimes hinder view and make the eye weep or cause irritation or the sensation of a grain of sand

• Sensitivity to light or a desire to scratch can also be felt

• A small white pocket of pus then occurs at the centre of the swelling. After a few days (a week) this white pocket empties, relieving pain and allowing the stye to heal spontaneously. 

• Causes of styes
• Treatments for styes

Read more about Dr.Alex Shortt: