Eye sty, also medically known as a hordeolum, is a painful and pimple-like infection occurring on the eyelid, caused by the staphylococcal bacteria when they get trapped inside an eyelash follicle or a tear duct. Most sties disappear in a day or two, and do not have a long-lasting damage, but it's always better to expedite the healing process so that they don't spread to the other parts of the eye or even other people. Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching the eye, do not share face towels or make-up, always maintain hygiene while using contact lenses. Stress, bad eating habits and poor hygiene may also cause eye sty. If you still suffer a sty, there are easy remedies to ease the pain and irritation.
One of the most basic things to do is to wash the sty with a clean cotton pad dipped in lukewarm water for 10 minutes several times a day. This will bring the sty ahead along with discharging the pus. Do not squeeze the sty, since it dries up on its own. Open up the sty by applying hot compresses. One hot compress can be made by boiling a handful of acacia leaves in two cups of water. Apply the solution to the affected eye with a clean, white cloth. Another hot compress is a teaspoon of coriander seeds boiled in one cupful of water, cooled and strained. Gently wash the eye sty with this 3-4 times a day. Soaking a handful of parsley in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes and applying it on the sty with a clean white cloth also works wonders. But one of the most popular treatments is warm guava leaves tied up in a moist cloth and gently applied over the eye. Placing a moistened tea bag on the affected eye for about 10 minutes several times a day or about 3-4 hours a day also helps a great deal. Instead of plain water, mix 2-3 granules of alum in a cup of water or even a clove and wash your eye with it. You can mash baked or grilled apple or potato, wrap in a damp cloth and apply it while the mash is still quite warm. Another way is to instill 2-3 times a day eye drops made from 1 teaspoon of turmeric boiled with 2 cups of water till reduced to half. Pass the water through muslin a few times till all the turmeric granules are removed. If all these do not help or the sty keeps coming back, see a specialist to avoid any serious infection.
answered by G M