Have you ever developed a stye on one of your eyelids? These pesky bumps can develop at any time and are most often caused by the buildup of dead skin, oil, or dirt around the eye. Treat a stye by following these simple steps from an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center!
Advice from an Optometrist on How to Care for a Stye
Use warm water—Wet a washcloth with warm water, and rest this on your eye for about five to ten minutes. Make sure that the water isn’t too hot and that the washcloth has been wrung out so that it doesn’t drip. Some people may also choose to use a warm tea bag to achieve the same effect. The heat and moisture will help the stye to come to a head, but please make sure not to pop the stye as if it is a pimple! The heat and water will allow the stye to open and drain on its own, which will cause it to heal more quickly.
Wash your hands and your eye—Keeping the surfaces clean is crucial in order to make sure that the stye goes away as quickly as possible. At Valley Eyecare Center, our optometrists recommend that you use diluted tear-free baby shampoo to wash your eyelid without getting too much soap in your eye. Make sure to wash your hands before and after touching your eye.
Avoid wearing makeup—Because makeup can get into your eye or make the stye worse, it is important not to wear makeup so that the stye can heal without anything covering it.
Treat styes easily and quickly with these simple tips to ensure proper eye health! To learn more about caring for styes, or to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.
