Brief Description, Types, Sign and Symptoms, Causes And Treatment Of Hordeolum

Hordeolum or stye is a small, painful localized swelling on the inside or outside of the eyelid. Stye is actually an abscess filled with pus and is usually caused by a staphylococcus bacteria eye infection. 
It is common with most people experiencing one or two of them at some stage in their life. Styes are not contagious. Hordeolum can either be external or internal.

Hordeolum Externum

This is an acute purulent inflammation of the glands of zeis and molls with hard localized, reddish and tender swelling at the lid margin. The pus points at the root of cilia and it comes with symptoms such as acute pain, mild lacrimation, photophobia and marked oedema.

Hordeolum Internum

Internal hordeolum is an acute purulent inflammation of the meibomian glands with hard localized, reddish and tender swelling at the lid tarsal plate. The pus points on the tarsal conjunctiva and it comes with symptoms such as acute pain, lacrimation, photophobia and oedema.

Treatment

1. Apply hot or warm compresses 2-3 times daily. 
2. Evacuate pus by epilating the involved cilia (hordeolum externum) or drain it by vertical incision from tarsal conjunctiva (hordeolum internum).
3. Apply antibiotic eye drops 3-4 times daily and ointments at bed time. 
4. In severe cases, systemic antibiotics maybe given for early control of infection. In addition, oral anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are used to relieve pain and oedema.

NOTE: Chalazion (meibomian cyst) and hordeolum internum both are inflammation of the meibomian gland. While chalazion is caused by noninfectious meibomian gland occlusion, hordeolum is usually caused by infection. With time, chalazion becomes non-tender but hordeolum remains painful and localizes to the eyelid margin.

Chalazion

Molluscum Contagiosum

Another eyelid infection that is worthy of mention is Molluscum Contagiosum which is a viral infection of the eyelids that comes in form of pale, waxy, umbilicated swelling, scattered over the lids (usually near the lid margin). Molluscum Contagiosum is caused by poxvirus and commonly affects children.