Experiencing a bothersome bump that resembles a pimple on your eyelid? It might be a stye, a common condition affecting the oil glands around your eyelids, frequently appearing near your eyelashes. Characterized by a red, painful, pus-filled bump, a stye typically resolves within a few days, often bursting and healing on its own. However, in some instances, medical intervention may be necessary to address the infection.
Styes usually manifest in one eye at a time, although some individuals are prone to recurrent styes. To understand what causes a stye, it’s helpful to differentiate it from similar conditions.
Stye vs. Chalazion
While both are eyelid bumps, a chalazion differs from a stye. Chalazia often develop on the underside of the upper eyelid, but can also occur on the lower lid. They arise from blocked oil glands in the eyelid, not necessarily from an infection, although a chalazion can sometimes follow a stye. Unlike styes, chalazia are typically painless and tend to persist longer, lasting weeks or months, often resolving spontaneously.
Stye vs. Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, involves inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the inner eyelid and the eye’s surface. The hallmark symptom of pink eye is a reddish or pink appearance of the whites of the eyes, accompanied by potentially swollen, crusty eyelids. While both styes and pink eye can be caused by bacterial infections, pink eye is more frequently viral. A key difference is that pink eye is highly contagious, unlike a stye.
Understanding the Causes of a Stye
So, what exactly causes a stye to form in your eye? The primary culprit is bacteria, most commonly Staphylococcus bacteria. These bacteria are everywhere and can easily transfer to your eyes from your hands or environment.
Here’s a closer look at how styes develop:
- Bacterial Infection: Styes are primarily caused by a bacterial infection, often Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria infects the oil glands in your eyelid.
- Blocked Oil Glands: The oil glands in your eyelids, such as the meibomian glands (internal styes) or glands of Zeis and Moll (external styes), can become blocked. This blockage can trap bacteria, leading to infection and stye formation.
Several factors can increase your risk of developing a stye:
- Touching Your Eyes with Dirty Hands: This is a major way bacteria are introduced to the eye area.
- Using Contaminated Eye Makeup: Old or contaminated makeup, especially mascara and eyeliner, can harbor bacteria.
- Poor Contact Lens Hygiene: Not cleaning contact lenses properly or using dirty contact lenses can transfer bacteria to your eyes.
- Underlying Conditions: Certain conditions like blepharitis (eyelid inflammation) or rosacea can increase the risk of styes.
Types of Styes and Their Specific Causes
There are two main types of styes, categorized by their location on the eyelid:
External Styes: These are the most common type and appear on the outer part of your eyelid, near the eyelashes.
- Cause: External styes typically result from an infection of an eyelash follicle and the adjacent oil (sebaceous) glands, known as the glands of Zeis or sweat glands of Moll.
Internal Styes: These develop on the inner side of your eyelid.
- Cause: Internal styes are caused by an infection of the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing oils that lubricate the eye.
Understanding What Causes A Stye In Your Eye is the first step in prevention and proper care. Maintaining good hygiene and addressing risk factors can help reduce the likelihood of developing these uncomfortable eyelid bumps.
