From the Research
A sty is also known as a hordeolum, which is a common, painful inflammation of the eyelid margin usually caused by bacterial infection, as noted in studies such as 1. The term hordeolum refers to a condition that can be either internal or external, with external hordeola being commonly referred to as styes. According to the most recent evidence available, specifically from 1, hordeolum and chalazion are the most frequent inflammatory eyelid tumors and can occur in association with underlying diseases causing Meibomian gland dysfunction and/or chronic blepharitis. Key characteristics of a sty (or external hordeolum) include:
- A small, painful bump on the eyelid
- Typically appears as a red, tender lump resembling a pimple on the edge of the eyelid
- Develops when bacteria infect and inflame an eyelash follicle or oil gland
- Treatment generally involves warm compresses to bring the sty to a head and promote drainage
- Most styes resolve on their own within a week, but medical attention should be sought if the condition persists, becomes increasingly painful, affects vision, or recurs frequently, as advised in 1. It's also important to note that while the provided studies 2 and 3 focus on internal hordeolum and do not directly address the question of another name for a sty, they do mention that external hordeola are commonly known as styes, reinforcing the information from 1.