do i have pink eye? if i do, how do i cure it?

Question

okay, here's the deal. i woke up yesterday with a horrible pain in my right eye. i looked in the mirror and i saw this ugly looking pimple on my bottom eyelid. when i got home from school, i put a hot washcloth on it and the pimple kept getting bigger than shrunk, only to get big again. then this morninf, it was looking worse, but it doesn't hurt. is this pink eye, and if it is, how do i stop it?? please help!

Answer 1

Styes

By Judith Lee and Gretchyn Bailey;
reviewed by Dr. Vance Thompson

A stye (also spelled "sty") develops when a gland at the edge of the eyelid becomes infected. Resembling a pimple on the eyelid, a stye can grow on the inside or outside of the lid. Styes are not harmful to vision, and they can occur at any age.

Stye Symptoms and Signs
A stye initially brings pain, redness, tenderness and swelling in the area, then a small pimple appears. Sometimes just the immediate area is swollen; other times the entire eyelid swells. You may notice frequent watering in the affected eye, a feeling like something is in the eye or increased light sensitivity.

What Causes Styes?
Styes are caused by staphylococcal bacteria. This bacterium is often found in the nose, and it's easily transferred to the eye by rubbing first your nose, then your eye.


Styes are not normally harmful to vision and generally heal within a few days.



Treatment for Styes
Most styes heal within a few days on their own. You can encourage this process by applying hot compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, three or four times a day over the course of several days. This will relieve the pain and bring the stye to a head, much like a pimple. The stye ruptures and drains, then heals.

Never "pop" a stye like a pimple; allow it to rupture on its own. If you have frequent styes, your eye doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment to prevent a recurrence.

Styes formed inside the eyelid either disappear completely or (rarely) rupture on their own, and they can be more serious. These styes may need to be opened and drained by your eyecare practitioner.

Chalazion, Another Type of Eyelid Bump
Often mistaken for a stye, a chalazion is an enlarged, blocked oil gland in the eyelid. A chalazion mimics a stye for the first few days, then turns into a painless hard, round bump later on. Most chalazia develop further from the eyelid edge than styes.

Although the same treatment speeds the healing of a chalazion, the bump may linger for one to several months. If the chalazion remains after several months, your eye doctor may drain it or inject a steroid to facilitate healing.

[Page updated October 2005]


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Answer 2

If it were pink eye, your entire eyeball would be pinkish. It sounds like a sty. Keep useing the warm washcloth. Try adding some epson salt to the water. This will help dry up the sty. Also get a tube of Polysporin Eye Ointment. If it doesn't show improvement after a few days, it's time for a doctor's visit. You may need prescription medicine.

Answer 3

It's a Sty, not pink eye. Keep warm compresses on it until it opens up and the fluid inside comes out. Then the pressure will go away and it won't hurt anymore. This is most likely caused by an infected hair/eyelash. Always remove makeup, if you wear it, every night before bedtime too. To help open the sty and bring it to the surface you can warm a tea bag and place it on the sty. The tea bag retains the heat for you. Good luck... i know they can be painful. Take CAre

Answer 4

Make a saline solution (1 tablespoon to 1 quart), BOIL IT, let it cool and put some compresses on your eye, about 3-4 x's a day. (Also store it in a sterilized container) Or you can go to the store and buy eyewash (not saline for contact lenses). I would suggest that you go to the doctor or at least ask your pharmacist for a suggestion. If it really is pink eye (conjunctivitis) then you will need antibiotic drops for it to clear up. Be very careful..it can spread to the other eye and to others.

Answer 5

This sounds more like a sty. Pink eye is an infection. Does not commonly have a bump and is itchy. Plus it makes your eye leak a lot of fluids.

Answer 6

Probably not. Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) would make both eyes very bloodshot looking, very itchy & burning,tear alot and be crusted closed in the morning. It's also very contagious!Sounds like a pimple on your eyelid which would painful as this is a sensitive area. Warm compresses are a great idea but if it persists see a doctor.Good Luck

Answer 7

No you don't have pink eye you have a sty. Go to wal-mart and pick up some sty stuff in the pharmacy isles. It is fairly cheap. It should go away in a couple of days.

Answer 8

It seems as if only a few people can spell stye correctly here. In addition "pinkeye" simply means inflammation of the conjunctiva which could be from a viral or bacterial infection or from something as simple as allergies or a chemical irritation such as cigarette smoke. Simply put pinkeye just means your eyes are irritated by something, it is not a diagnosis.

Answer 9

It may not be pink eye. You might just have a stye. I would recommend going to the Dr. for furthur testing. From there she can give you eye drops or some antibiotics.

Answer 10

I think you have a stye. You should go to the doctor. Also don't share your towels or face cloths with anyone because if it is pink eye (conjunctivitis) it is very contangious . GO TO THE DOCTOR!!