A stye can be quite painful, appearing as a red bump on your eyelid. If you experience eye pain and notice a swollen, irritated lump on the inside or outside of your eyelid, you’re probably suffering from this relatively common problem. What is a stye, and do you need to visit your eye doctor for an eye exam?
If you do have a stye, don’t worry! Although they may cause pain, styes are typically harmless and rarely affect your vision or eyeball. Most people develop at least one or two styes at some point during their life. Just book an eye exam at our Las Vegas eye care center to get it checked.
Why do styes form?
A stye is a pus-filled abscess, usually caused by an infection from staphylococcus bacteria. As unappealing as it sounds, your skin surface is actually a breeding ground for many types of bacteria. When they feed on dead skin cells, a stye can form. (It’s similar to how pimples appear.)
How do styes go away?
When located on the outside of your eyelid, a stye starts as a small lump next to your eyelash. Within a few days, it will grow into a red, swollen area, before bursting. Once that happens, the stye will heal on its own.
When located on the underside of your eyelid, the stye will swell – but instead of bursting, it will disappear gradually once the infection is past. Sometimes, a small fluid-filled cyst will remain, which our Las Vegas eye doctor may need to open and drain.
When do you need treatment from an eye doctor?
If you have the following symptoms, book an eye exam for urgent care in Las Vegas:
- Eyelid swelling that disrupts vision
- Swelling that doesn’t go away within a week or two
- Extreme pain in your eye
- Recurrent styes
At Yesnick Vision Center, we put your family's needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 702-500-0525 or book an appointment online to see one of our Las Vegas eye doctors.
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