Styes are very common and can develop both on your outer and inner eyelids. They are typically the result of a bacterial infection, and while most styes clear up without any complications, you should make an appointment with your optometrist for an examination if you develop symptoms. Your eye doctor will diagnose your inner eyelid stye based upon the following signs and symptoms and may recommend the following treatment options.
Stye Signs and Symptoms
Inner lid styles can develop on the undersides of your upper or lower eyelids, usually very close to your lash line, and they are typically very painful. They are usually red, resemble pimples, and can cause excessive tearing and burning. Your eyelid may be inflamed, and you may notice drainage or a sticky discharge coming out of your eye. Inner eyelid styes often itch and cause photophobia, or light sensitivity.
Your optometrist may shine a light inside your eye and ask you if you feel pain. If you do, you may have stye-related photophobia. Your doctor will also examine your eye for crusting, broken blood vessels, and scleral swelling. Inner eyelid styes can cause temporary blurred vision, and because of this, your optometrist will administer a vision test. If your examination reveals any or all of the aforementioned signs and symptoms, a diagnosis of an inner lid stye will be made.
Stye Treatments
With the proper treatment, your stye will begin to resolve after a couple of days. Your doctor may recommend placing warm compresses over the affected eye multiple times a day. In addition to the compresses, your doctor will advise you to gently cleanse your eye with a solution of baby shampoo and warm water. Baby shampoo gently cleanses away eye drainage and is gentle enough to use multiple times a day because it does not irritate your eyes.
While you should notice an improvement in your symptoms just by using warm compresses and baby shampoo cleanses, your stye may be resistant to these conservative treatments. If your stye symptoms have not improved after about a week or so, your eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or an antibacterial ointment.
If you notice a red bump underneath your upper or lower eyelid, especially if it is painful and red, make an appointment with your optometrist. When styes are diagnosed and treated in their early stages, you are less likely to experience severe pain, light sensitivity, and bacterial cross-contamination to your other eye.
We all know how important it is to get regular eye examinations. We want to educate people of all ages on the importance of taking care of their eyes so that they can preserve their vision for as long as possible. Our blog posts will cover topics such as age-related eye disorders such as open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. We'll also provide you with information on contact lens care, minor eye irritations, bifocal glasses, eye infections, and medications that can cause eye problems. If we can help you keep your eyes healthy, then we've done our job.