Stye

I’ve got it... it started with itchiness and watering, and now it’s painful... I think I fall under the stye category - and it usually takes some time to heal... so what exactly is it? here’s the answer:

A stye is an inflammation of the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection - and no, it is not caused by peeking or spying on people... according to health references such as WebMD, there are 2 common types of stye:

• Stye: a bacterial infection that begins at the eyelash follicle... it usually appears on the edge of the eyelid... if it develops inside the eyelid, it is called an internal hordeolum, caused by infection of the oil glands within the eyelid... this type is typically painful, but it usually heals quickly - often within a week...
• Chalazion:  appears as a larger lump on the eyelid... unlike a stye, it is generally not painful... it forms when the oil glands become blocked, causing swelling... in some cases, a stye may eventually develop into a chalazion... it often lasts a month or longer before resolving...

people with a stye may experience watery eyes, itching, sensitivity, swelling or redness of the eyelid... a stye is not dangerous and not highly contagious, so there’s usually no need to panic...