Pharma gyan Pandit

Stye in eyelids: (hordeolum and chalazion)

A stye is a bump that forms on or in the eyelid as the result of a blocked gland. The word "sty" can also be spelled "stye." There are two distinct types of styes: hordeolum and chalazion. Each has different causes and treatments.

A hordeolum is a blockage of one of the sweat glands found in the skin of the lid and base of the eyelashes, or one of the small sebaceous glands found at the base of the eyelashes. Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, a waxy, oily material.

A chalazion is a blockage of a meibomian gland, which is a special sebaceous gland unique to the eyelids. These glands form a single row in each lid, with the body of the gland located inside the eyelid, and the opening located at the rim of the lid, posterior to the lashes. These glands secrete oil on to the surface of the eye to prevent the water layer of tears from evaporating too rapidly from the eye's surface between blinks. Therefore, poorly functioning meibomian glands can lead to dry eye symptoms.

The symptoms of a stye are pain, tenderness and swelling in the eyelid. A yellow head may be seen somewhere along the edge of the affected eyelid, which can be very noticeable.

Because of the infection and swelling, styes can be intensely painful. Eventually, the accumulated pus will discharge spontaneously through the 'head' – once this has happened, the swelling and tenderness will heal.

Use of eye ointments:  Gently pull down your lower eyelid and look up. Hold the tube above the eye and gently squeeze a 1cm line of ointment along the inside of the lower eyelid, taking care not to touch the eye or eyelashes with the tip of the tube. Blink your eyes to spread the ointment over the surface of the eyeball.

Antibiotics for styes: Commonly, the ophthalmologist or optometrist prescribes oral or intravenous antibiotics, such as doxycycline, only when the infection has spread. Topical antibiotic ointments or antibiotic/steroid combination ointments can also be administered in stye treatment. Surgery is the last resort in stye treatment.

Pain reliever:

Ibuprofen is more effective at treating a chalazion since eyelid swelling and pain is usually more severe. Over-the-counter products such as Stye Relief Ointment, Stye Eye Relief by Similasan, or non-prescription Polysporin antibiotic eye drops, will not help heal or cure a stye.

Here’s a list of common oral antibiotics that will NOT cure a stye:

Bacitracin

Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfate and Dexamethasone Ointment

Colistin

Amoxicillin

Penicillin

azithromycin 1%  ophthalmic solution

Clindamycin

Teicoplanin

Cipro or Ciprofloxacin

Ceftaroline Fosamil

Daptomycin

Linezolid

Z-Pak or Zithromax