i woke up w/ a sore bump in my eye, its in my upper eyelid..what is it? my sister says its a stayh(cant spell and she cant ethier) do you know what i have and what its called and how i got it??
2007-03-04 07:18:01 · 6 answers · asked by Mel 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
A sty is a pimple or abscess that forms in either the upper or lower eyelid. The medical term for sty is hordeolum(say HOR-dee-oh-lumm) and it is an infection caused by bacteria that normally live peacefully on the eyelid skin surface. Some of thee germs get trapped along with dead skin cells inside crypts along the eyelid margin. Stys are usually superficial and plainly visible. Occasionally they can reside deeper within the eyelid.
An external sty starts as a pimple next to an eyelash. It turns into a red, painful swelling that usually lasts several days before it bursts and then heals. Most external stys are short-lived and self-limiting.
An internal sty(on the underside of the lid) also causes a red, painful swelling, but its location prevents the familiar whitehead from appearing on the eyelid. The internal sty may disappear completely once the infection is past, or it may leave a small fluid-filled cyst or nodule that can persist and may have to be opened and drained.
Folks tend to confuse a sty with another common lid lump - the chalazion (say cha-LAY-zee-yon). A chalazion is very different from a sty and is not an infection. It is instead a firm, round, smooth, painless bump usually some distance from the edge of the lid. A chalazion is a local tissue reaction to oily glandular secretions that were unable to reach the lid surface because the duct was blocked by debris.
Stys and chalazia are usually harmless and rarely affect your eyeball or your eyesight. They can occur at any age and tend to periodically recur.
What Causes It?
Stys are usually caused by staphylococcal bacteria, which often live right on the skin surface. Truth be told, our bodies are coated with billions of friendly bacteria that coexist with us. When the conditions are just right the bacteria feast on dead cells and other debris, resulting in the tender pimple.
For the sake of comparison, a chalazion is caused by the blockage of tiny eyelid gland ducts that normally transports an oily substance called meibom. This oily material enters the tear film to prevent tear evaporation. Trapped or misplaced oil stimulates the immune system to cleanup the mess. Chalazia develop over weeks-to-months.
2007-03-04 07:22:17 · answer #1 · answered by nochocolate 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It could be a 'stye' (that is the proper spelling, by the way) or it could be an 'inflammation' of a 'blood vessel' or something worse ... or it could simply be a 'pimple' in a place that people rarely get them ... 'rarely' doesn't mean it can't happen, just that it can't happen very often. If your 'sore bump' doesn't 'stop hurting as much' or gets 'larger and sorer' in two days, you should go see a 'doctor' ... preferably a good dermatologist, but if you have a 'regular general practitioner' go to see him/her ... it doesn't really matter 'how you got it' but it does matter that it is 'taken care of properly' ...
You may use 'cold water' soaks (on a rag) if it is 'really sore' but if the cold water 'hurts it worse' then don't do ANYTHING and go see a doctor right away.
2007-03-04 07:27:46 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's a stye, then it is like a boil on your eyelid, very painful. Usually starts with a small spot, but then suddenly develops into a stye. You may need antibiotics for it, or it may go away on it's own, but try not to touch it and maybe go and see your doctor.
2007-03-04 07:24:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably a sty, and i'm not sure how you got it or how to get rid of it. if it is the first one you have, you should go see a doc. i know you can get them from sharing eye makeup and stuff with other people. that is one way... or from eye fluid contact with someone.. i'm not sure how they start in a person though... like i said.. go see your doc
2007-03-04 07:21:15 · answer #4 · answered by MnKLmT 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
your sister is most likelt right but u never know so go to the docer soon(u could have a yeast infection.)
2007-03-04 07:25:23 · answer #5 · answered by becca 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a nurse and they call them stars. However it is from bacteria getting into your eye. Warm cloths will ease the discomfort. Take care.
2007-03-04 07:23:41 · answer #6 · answered by nursey 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋