Barley Corn and Hailstone: What Helps?

A stye is a gland inflammation of the eye, usually purulent. Unlike a hailstone, which is also an infection on the eyelid, a stye is caused by bacteria. Both forms of inflammation are considered harmless – but they are annoying and can recur if not treated correctly. How do you treat them and how do you prevent them?

What is a stye?

A stye is a common, acute inflammation of the glands of the eyelid. Triggered by a bacterial infection, it causes a collection of pus on the eye that can be painful but usually heals without complications. In technical language, this is also referred to as a “hordeolum” (from the Latin word hordeum – barley). Recognize eye diseases: These pictures help!

Causes of a barley stye

In most cases, the purulent inflammation is caused by staphylococci. These are spherical bacteria that often settle on human skin and on mucous membranes, such as in the nose. As typical pus bacteria, they cause abscesses and infect skin lesions and wounds. If such bacteria now penetrate the sweat and sebaceous glands located in the edges of the eyelids, they cause a violent inflammation there – a stye forms. The bacteria can enter the eye through various ways. For example, unwashed hands or improper eye care can transfer germs into the eye, which then cause an infection. Therefore, styes are also common in children, who often touch their eyes with dirty fingers.

Risk factors for a stye

There are several factors that can increase the risk of developing a stye. Risk groups include people with a weakened immune system and those with diabetes mellitus. This is because these risk groups are prone to staph infections of the skin. Therefore, in case of a repeated occurrence of a stye, it is recommended to have diabetes ruled out by a doctor. In addition, a hordeolum is also often accompanied by acne. Wearing contact lenses or contamination from makeup residue can also promote the development of a stye.

What are the signs of a stye?

A stye is usually characterized by a sudden inflammation. The following symptoms may occur with a stye on the upper or lower eyelid:

  • A painful and purulent swelling.
  • A reddening of the corresponding area
  • Pressure sensitivity
  • A feeling of tension
  • Itching
  • Sometimes swelling or redness of the conjunctiva

Usually, in a stye, the symptoms are limited to the affected eye. However, in severe and rare cases, a general feeling of illness with fever or swelling of the lymph nodes may occur.

Internal and external stye

Depending on which glands on the eye are inflamed, a distinction is made between two forms of stye:

  • In the case of hordeolum internum (internal sty), the sebaceous glands on the inside of the eyelid are affected – the so-called meibomian glands. In this case, the conjunctiva may also show inflammation or the lid margin may become bulging. The inner sty occurs more often than the outer, but is less easily recognizable.
  • In the hordeolum externum (external sty), the external Zeis glands (sebaceous glands) or Moll glands (sweat glands) are affected. Since the sty in this case is on the outside, this form is easier to recognize.

Course and duration of a stye

The course of a stye usually develops harmlessly and without complications. How long the inflammation lasts can vary. After a duration of a few days to a week, the stye bursts on its own, the pus drains, and the inflammation heals.

Stye – when you should go to the doctor.

Styes are actually harmless. In the majority of cases, a hordeolum bursts by itself and subsequently heals. Sometimes, however, there can be complications: For example, the inflammation can spread to the entire eye (orbital phlegmon) or an eyelid abscess can develop. This can happen especially if affected persons press around the stye.As a result, the staphylococci can even enter the bloodstream in the worst case and trigger meningitis, for example. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted in any case if the inflammation expands beyond the normal appearance of a sty, hurts severely or if the hordeolum does not burst open on its own within a few days.

Stye in children

Even in children, a stye is usually harmless and heals on its own after a few days. However, children are at risk of constantly rubbing or touching the infected eye. This can spread the bacteria and the inflammation could, for example, also be transferred to the other eye. In addition, the inflammation is quite painful and unpleasant. Therefore, a visit to the doctor is recommended for children. He can prescribe eye drops or an ointment to relieve the symptoms and support healing. In case of complications, such as fever or a spread of the inflammation, a doctor should be consulted in any case. Of course, this also applies to adults.

Stye: treatment

As a rule, a stye heals on its own. However, one can support the healing process by various methods:

  • Since styes are caused by bacteria, antibiotic-containing eye drops or ointments can help (for example, with the active ingredient gentamicin). These require a prescription, but accelerate healing by serving to reduce swelling and disinfect the eye.
  • Over-the-counter antiseptic eye ointments, for example with the active ingredient Bibrocathol, also work against the inflammation.
  • Dry heat – for example, by irradiation with a red light lamp – has also proven effective. Recommended to apply this three times a day for 10 minutes.

Counterproductive, however, are home remedies such as moist, warm compresses – even if these are often recommended. But the bacteria are then rather carried away and it can lead to further infections. If you want to treat a stye with the help of homeopathy, you should consult your doctor beforehand. If the stye does not break open on its own or if severe swelling or pain occurs, an ophthalmologist must treat the stye by opening it through a puncture and thus removing it.

Keep your fingers out of your eyes!

Even if a hordeolum is harmless in itself: You should never try to open a stye yourself by squeezing or pricking it. Serious infections can result. Moreover, since the bacteria are contagious, you should not touch the site of inflammation and wash or disinfect your hands regularly. Otherwise, it is easy for the infection to spread to the other eye or for other people to become infected – for example, by transferring the bacteria via a door handle.

What is the difference between a stye and a hailstone?

Often a barleycorn is equated in the linguistic usage with the so-called hailstone – however, they are different forms of the inflammation of the eyelid. A hailstone, known as a “chalazion” in technical language, is characterized by a nodular swelling of the eyelid, just like the stye. It usually develops slowly and can become pea-sized over time. However, unlike the stye, the hailstone is not caused by bacteria, but is a chronic disease of the eyelid that usually does not cause pain. A hailstone is caused by a blockage of the meibomian glands. In rare cases, it can be the result of a stye.

What to do in case of a hailstone?

Smaller hailstones may occasionally resolve spontaneously on their own after a few weeks or months. Sometimes a hailstone will burst open, allowing the secretion to empty. Therapy with red light may also promote healing of hailstones. The ophthalmologist will either prescribe an ointment to stimulate regression or will surgically remove the hailstone. This involves opening the hailstone under local anesthesia and removing the secretion and inflammatory tissue. In any case, if a hailstone does not disappear soon on its own, it should be examined by an ophthalmologist to rule out a tumor disease of the glands.

Precaution: preventive eye care

Ophthalmologists recommend careful eye hygiene in case of increased tendency to barley and hailstones, by cleaning the edge of the eyelid very carefully, especially after inflammation and after surviving surgery of a hailstone, preferably with a very mild baby shampoo. Afterwards, the eyelid should be dabbed dry, then rubbed with antibiotic ointment for a while. In case of recurring symptoms, it is advisable to exercise caution when choosing shampoo and cosmetic products. Eyebright, a herbal medicine usually in drop form, is said to help preventively not only conjunctivitis, but also chronic eyelid rim inflammation and styes. It also helps with eye strain and dry eyes. In addition, since a weakened immune system can promote the development of styes, a healthy lifestyle is important. This includes a balanced diet as well as sufficient exercise.