Word of the Day
Stye, also Sty (sty)
Common clue: Sebaceous gland woe (var.)
Definition: an inflamed swelling on the edge of an eyelid.
Image
courtesy of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
A sty (also spelled stye) is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands at the base of the eyelashes. It is generally caused by a Staphylococcus bacteria infection. Sties are not believed to be infectious. They are particularly common in infants.
The sty may form on either the inside or the outside of the eyelid.
· An external sty will show as a tender, red swelling on the edge of the eyelid and will tend to drain itself quickly.
· An internal sty will also be tender and may show external red swelling. Internal sties often take longer to heal because the abscess can not drain as easily.
· Most sties will drain on their own though this may be accelerated with a warm compress.
· If the condition does not clear up in a few days, consult a medical professional.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html). It uses material from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stye.
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