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Four Things You Need to Know about Styes

A stye is a bump that develops along the inside or outside of the upper or lower eyelid. Although common, styes typically do not pose any serious threats to one’s health. Arizona oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Ali Ghafouri has years of experience managing styes. Here, the trusted doctor shares important information regarding the condition.

Common Symptoms

Styes occur when an oil gland at the edge of an eyelid becomes infected, resulting in a bump that resembles a pimple. The area around the stye can become swollen; or, in other cases, the entire eyelid can swell. Some patients may experience frequent watering in the affected eye, increased light sensitivity and a feeling of a foreign object in the eye.

Styes Don’t Interfere with Vision

Although irritating, a stye shouldn’t affect your ability to see well at either near or far distances. If it does, the bump on your eyelid may not be a stye but instead a symptom of a more serious condition. If your vision is affected, it’s best to seek medical care right away.

Styes are Contagious

The bacteria that causes styes is easily transferrable. However, everyone has the bacteria that causes styes in their body. The bacteria is found in the nose and is transferred to the eye when you rub your nose and then your eye. Still, if you have a stye, you should take precautions to make sure you don’t transfer the infection to someone else. Simple hygienic steps like washing your hands often and not rubbing your eyes can help. Make sure to wash pillowcases, bedsheets, towels and makeup brushes often and never share these items with other people.

Never “Pop” a Stye

Treat a stye as you would a pimple and never attempt to squeeze or pop it. Most styes heal on their own within a few days. To aid healing, you can apply a hot compress on the stye for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times a day, until the stye ruptures, drains and heals on its own. A stye that forms inside the eyelid may not rupture or heal on its own. If this is the case, you should consult your eye doctor right away.

Contact Arizona Oculoplastic Specialists

To learn more about styes and the treatment options we offer, contact Arizona Oculoplastic Surgeons. Please call (480) 905-1010 or fill out our online form today.

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Dr. Ghafouri, MD, FACS, is a distinguished ophthalmic plastic and facial cosmetic surgeon based in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, with extensive experience in eyelid, eye orbit, tear drainage, and skin cancer surgeries. He specializes in minimally invasive aesthetic procedures such as cosmetic eyelid lifts, endoscopic forehead lifts, mid-facelifts, laser facial rejuvenation, Botox, and dermal fillers. Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a fellow of several prestigious medical societies, he has performed over 18,000 major reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries. Dr. Ghafouri and his team at Arizona Oculoplastic Specialists are dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care with compassion and excellence.

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Dr. Ghafouri offers virtual consultations for out-of-town patients. We see patients from all across the country who trust Dr. Ghafouri’s unique skills and expertise for their facial or eyelid surgeries. If you choose to travel to Arizona for your surgery, we can also recommend hotels and other resources to make your stay comfortable.

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