Home remedies for stye, inflammation and eye infections: what ophthalmologists say

About 80% of the information our brain receives is visual. In fact, the power of our vision and brain is so great that the latter is capable of processing images passing through our eyes in just 13 thousandths of a second, according to an MIT study published in the journal Attention, Perception and Psychophysics.

It is very important to pay attention and take gentle care of our eye health, especially now that we are exposed to screens and other factors that harm it. Especially when styes, inflammation and other eye infections appear in our eyes.

What types of styles are there?

There are several types of styles. As Dr. Elena Pardina, ophthalmologist at HLA Clínica Montpellier explains to elDiario.es, “an external infection is usually a bacterial infection in the form of a small red and painful lump at the base of the eyelashes, in the hair follicle. and the glands of Zeiss and the adjacent Molly, and that after a few days they may spontaneously open and discharge pus, improving the symptoms.” An internal stye, on the other hand, “is an infection of the meibomian glands, which produce fat. A red, painful lump appears on the inner surface of the eyelid, which externally can be considered as a generalized inflammation of the eyelid,” he continues.

In conclusion, the ophthalmologist adds, “a chalazion is a non-infectious occlusion of the meibomian gland, the symptoms of inflammation are very mild, and can cause blurred vision and the formation of a painless nodule on the eyelid. They are usually depleted or reabsorbed spontaneously over weeks or months.”

What are the most common eye inflammations and infections?

As Pardina elaborates, “the most common conditions on the eyelids are blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction, which causes redness, flaking of the eyelashes, itching or burning, and sometimes a dry or gritty feeling in the eyes.”

One of the most common causes of eye inflammation is conjunctivitis, which causes “red, itchy, burning and watery eyes or more or less dense rheumatoids for various reasons: allergic (especially now in the spring) or viral (which makes it very contagious),” the ophthalmologist emphasizes.

There are other, slightly less common inflammations or infections: “Tear duct infection or dacryocystitis, corneal abscesses (it is very important to use contact lenses correctly and not overuse them to prevent them), episcleritis or uveitis,” he explains.

Home remedies to treat them: yes or no?

There are countless home remedies to relieve or eliminate the symptoms of stye, chalazion, blepharitis and other diseases, but not all of them are equally effective and beneficial.

For example, placing a cotton ball of hot chamomile on the eye is one of the most common remedies, as the plant is credited with many health benefits, such as its anti-inflammatory or disinfectant properties. However, these are not sterile products, and there are studies, such as the one published in the Journal of the Faculty of Medicine of Mexico, that confirm that their components can cause eye irritation and allergies.

In fact, this and other solutions, such as dabbing a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar diluted with warm water or heating a teaspoon and applying it to the eye, are remedies that “may work for some people due to spontaneous resolution of the condition or because heat is applied, which is beneficial,” explains the ophthalmologist.

Moreover, it should be added that these and other measures, such as the use of a cold hollow key, which apparently can relieve pain and inflammation, are counterproductive, since, as Pardina states, “treating the infected area with an object that may be dirty is unacceptable ” recommended because we may make the infection worse.”

How should we address and treat these conditions?

Although, according to Pardina, “none of these mentioned techniques are recommended,” there is a traditional method that ophthalmologists approve for treating styes and relieving other conditions such as dry eyes, eyelid infections such as blepharitis and chalazion, etc. .

We are talking about applying warm compresses, napkins or gauze to the eye. The advantage of this method is that the heat can act as drainage, help remove pus from the stye and relieve other infections and inflammations.

To do this, we can apply heat to the eyes, dry or wet, 3 or 4 times a day, making sure they are not too hot and leaving them on for five to 10 minutes.

As Pardina recommends, “In this case, it is important to ensure that the cloth is clean each time it is used, although it is preferable to use sterile gauze or compresses and discard them after applying heat.”

In the specific case of styes, besides the importance of not squeezing or poking them, “we can improve their condition by gently massaging the edge of the eyelid, always washing our hands first. This helps open clogged glands and dissolve retained contents, facilitating its removal,” explains the ophthalmologist.

In almost all of these cases, it is advisable to “clean the eyelids daily with ophthalmic wipes and use artificial tears to keep the eyes moist and prevent or treat dry eyes,” he emphasizes.

To this we must add: do not touch your eyes, keep your hands clean and do not use contact lenses, although due to the sensitivity of this area it is advisable to consult an ophthalmologist, especially in cases where we are unsure or unsure what it is such. is that this happens to us.

Additionally, it is important to never use false eyelashes or any other eye cosmetics such as makeup. As for the latter, after an outbreak of the disease it must be disinfected or thrown away and, of course, not shared with other people.

In fact, there is a study like the one published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology in which sharing makeup products, such as eyeliner or eye shadow, was significantly associated with positive conjunctivitis.