Definition of barley

A stye is a mild infection which forms in a few days at the edge of the eyelid. A small, red, painful pimple appears at the base of the eyelashes and fills with pus. A stye is not harmful to the eye and is not contagious. THE’infection Usually goes away on its own after about a week.

Causes of stye

A stye is formed when bacteria (often of the type Staphylococcus aureus) lodge in the root of the eyelashes (or follicles). The glands at the base of the eyelashes thus blocked, swell and become infected.

We can confuse the stye with:

A chalazion, a localized inflammation of the eyelid caused by obstruction of the meibomian glands. These glands are located about 0,5 cm from the free edge of the eyelid, so they are deeper and produce an oily substance used in the composition of tears. The infection is caused by bacteria causing redness and swelling inside the eyelid. A chalazion is usually painless and grows more slowly than a stye. It can last from 4 to 8 weeks.

Symptoms of a stye 

• Un nodule or a small red button at the edge of the eyelid appearing rapidly. This little button was formerly called “Compère Loriot”;

• Eyelid pain near the root of the eyelashes that appears within 24 to 48 hours;
• benefits locally swollen eyelids at the site of the stye;
• Watery eyes;

• A foreign body sensation in the eye;
• Du pus in the eye when the stye spontaneously perforates.

People at risk

People with diabetes suffer from sties more often. In case of frequent stye, it is recommended to be screened for diabetes.

Risk factors

• A poor eye hygiene, for example, wearing expired or infected make-up on the eyelids;
• The port of contact lenses improperly decontaminated or handling contact lenses with poor hand hygiene;
• The stress ;
• Hormonal changes;
• Dry eye regardless of the origin. For example, suffer from blepharitis, an inflammation of the edges of the eyelids that causes dry eyes;
• Suffer from ocular-type rosacea, characterized by eye irritation.