Path on the eye

Path on the eye

Sti on the eye is called hordeolum in technical language, and is an inflammation that causes a red, painful lump on the eyelid. The sebaceous gland belonging to an eyelash becomes inflamed, and this is the cause of the swelling and swollen eyelid. The condition is usually harmless, and recovery occurs on its own after a few days.

What is trail on the eye?

Hordeolum is characterized by a painful, red lump on the eyelid and a swollen eyelid. This is a very common condition. Path can occur on both the lower and upper eyelids. The lump may look like a boil or pimple, and it may be filled with pus. Crusts may also form around the eyelid, especially in the morning. There will often be swelling on the rest of the eyelid, and the irritation can lead to increased formation of tear fluid and watery eyes.

Chalazion, a similar condition that also causes a lump on the eye, can be confused with stye. The difference between these two eyelid conditions is, among other things, that stye on the eye hurts, and that chalazion lasts longer than stye.

Cause of trail on the eye?

A stye on the eye comes as a result of an infection or inflammation in one of the small sebaceous glands in the eyelid. This happens because the outlet of the sebaceous gland, which provides lubrication to the eyelashes and tear fluid, becomes blocked. Bacteria such as staphylococci and streptococci can contribute to the inflammation, but you can also get an eye infection as a result of other bacteria, or without bacteria being involved at all.

Paths are divided into outer and inner paths, depending on where the inflammation is located. With the external path, the inflammation is in one of the sebaceous glands on the edge of the eyelid, while with the internal path, the inflammation is in one of the eyelid's inner glands. Most people get an outer path.

Anyone can get an eye strain, and it is very common. Some chronic diseases can increase the risk of stye on the eye:

• Diabetes.

• Blepharitis.

• Seborrheic eczema.

• Eye rosacea.

Symptoms of eye strain

• Red, painful lump on the eyelid. May look like a pimple.

• Painful and swollen eyelid.

• Watery eye.

• Crusting along the edge of the eye, especially at night.

Course of the disease by path on the eye

Path on the eye will often develop over a couple of days. Then it will hopefully get better on its own again within a few days. It usually takes no longer than a week for the condition to resolve.

Good advice

Apply warm compresses to the affected eye. Soak a towel or washcloth in warm water and hold it with light pressure over the closed eyelid. When the cloth starts to get colder, dip it in warm water again, and repeat the application to the eyelid. This can be repeated for 5 to 15 minutes, preferably four to five times a day. You can also try gently massaging the area.

• Avoid eye make-up when you have eye makeup.

• Avoid contact lenses when you have eye strain.

• Do not squeeze the path.

• Avoid rubbing your eyes. This is to prevent the condition from spreading to the other eye, or to other people.

Preventive measures

• Do not borrow eye make-up from others.

• Wash your hands before touching your eye.

• Wash your hands before applying or removing contact lenses.

• Remove eye makeup every night.

Treatment

The pain will often get better on its own after a few days, and for most people self-treatment with warm compresses will be enough relief. If this is not the case, local antibiotic treatment in the form of eye drops or eye ointment may be necessary to get rid of any bacteria causing inflammation. This is subject to prescription and can be obtained from a doctor.

In rare cases where the infection is very strong, antibiotic treatment in the form of tablets may be necessary.

When should you contact a doctor in the event of an eye injury?

• If the trail on the eye does not start to go away after a couple of days of self-treatment.

• You become red or swollen elsewhere on your face.

• If the trail on the eye becomes very large or bleeds.

• If vision is affected.

• If the whole eye or eyelid is red and swollen.

Sources: Uptodate, BMJ Best Practice, Norsk Helseinformatikk, Store norske lexikon