Is stye contagious?

Although stye will make patients feel very uncomfortable after it occurs, it is generally not contagious, so there is no need to worry about it being transmitted to other people. However, many people will have both eyes affected at the same time after it occurs, and the disease will recur repeatedly. Even after the inflammation is finally eliminated, it will reappear, which may cause suppuration or ulceration.

Stye usually occurs in one eye, occasionally in both eyes at the same time or repeatedly and alternately. Most patients will develop suppuration after a few days, and the swelling and pain will subside and the patient will recover.

Stye is mostly caused by wind-heat toxic evil, which accumulates in the eyelids; or by eating too much spicy and greasy food, which causes heat and toxicity to accumulate in the spleen and stomach and attack the eyes. [2]

There are four main causes of pinholes:

1. Overwork of the eyes causes the orbicularis oculi muscles around the eyes to contract, thus blocking the gland opening.

2. Rubbing your eyes with dirty hands can cause bacteria to enter through the gland opening.

3. Food-related allergies, such as some people are addicted to seafood, chocolate, etc.

If styes recur, you should pay attention to a full body check for diabetes

When a stye first occurs, you can apply ice to the swollen and painful eyelids, use anti-inflammatory eye drops, and take oral antibiotics if necessary. Most cases can disappear within three to four days; if the gland is swollen and festering, surgical incision and drainage are required.

1. Local treatment

(1) In the early stage when pus has not yet formed, hot and moist compresses can be used to help dissipate the pus.

(2) Use Zijin Tablets or Qinghuo Eye Pills, mix with external eye drops or other anti-inflammatory eye drops or cold boiled water, and apply to the affected skin; you can also use Ruyi Golden Cream to apply to the affected skin. CAUTION: Do not apply medication in eyes.

(3) Take several pieces of fresh Commelina, remove the leaves and stems, wash them, and place them over the flame of an alcohol lamp or on fire to bake. Squeeze them with your fingers and quickly apply the juice that flows out of the broken ends to the affected area. Be careful not to apply it into the eyes. Apply 4 to 5 times a day.

(4) Use 1-2 grams of fresh red peony root, white flower snake tongue grass, dandelion, wild chrysanthemum, etc., wash and mash them, and apply them to the affected skin. Be careful not to apply them into the eyes.

2. Surgical treatment

When pus has formed, it should be incised and drained. When the pus head is located on the skin surface of the eyelid, the incision should be parallel to the eyelid chord; when the pus head is located on the inner surface of the eyelid, the incision should be perpendicular to the eyelid chord. It must be noted: If pus forms in the affected area, do not squeeze it. If this causes widespread swelling of the eyelids, purple swelling and severe pain, or is accompanied by chills, fever, headache and other serious symptoms, it means the condition has worsened and should be treated as an eye doctor.