From the Guidelines
A hordeolum, commonly known as a stye, is a painful, localized infection of an oil gland in the eyelid, often presenting with symptoms such as redness, irritation, burning, and tearing, as noted in patients with blepharitis 1. When considering the diagnosis of a hordeolum, it is essential to take a thorough patient history, including questions about symptoms and signs, time of day when symptoms are worse, duration of symptoms, and unilateral or bilateral presentation, as outlined in the blepharitis preferred practice pattern 1. Key characteristics of a hordeolum include:
- A small, red, tender bump on the edge of the eyelid or sometimes under the eyelid
- Typically caused by bacteria, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus
- Infection of either the meibomian glands (internal hordeolum) or the glands of Zeis or Moll (external hordeolum) Treatment and management strategies for hordeolum focus on promoting drainage and relieving symptoms, and may include:
- Warm compresses applied to the affected area for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times daily
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to manage discomfort
- Avoiding touching or squeezing the stye, and discontinuing eye makeup and contact lens use until it heals
- Seeking medical attention if the stye persists beyond a week, worsens, affects vision, or spreads to other areas, at which point a doctor might prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment such as erythromycin or bacitracin for severe cases 1.
From the Research
Definition of Hordeolum
- A hordeolum is a common, painful inflammation of the eyelid margin that is usually caused by a bacterial infection 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The infection affects oil glands of the eyelid and can be either internal or external 2, 3, 4, 5.
- External hordeola are also known as styes, while internal hordeola occur when the meibomian gland in the tarsal plate is affected 4.
Characteristics of Hordeolum
- The condition is common and can resolve spontaneously in many cases, but the inflammation can spread to other ocular glands or tissues, and recurrences are common 2, 3, 4, 5.
- If unresolved, an acute internal hordeolum can become chronic or develop into a chalazion 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The onset of hordeolum is usually self-limited and may resolve in about a week with spontaneous drainage of the abscess 4.