Hot weather is the season when styes are prone to occur. Children's eyes are still developing and their glands are immature, making them more susceptible to blocked oil glands than adults, and thus more likely to develop styes. If not treated properly afterwards, forming a pustule, the pus flowing into the eye can more likely cause conjunctivitis.
Paediatric specialist Dr Chan Yan-wing explained that both the upper and lower eyelids have oil glands that are responsible for secreting oil to slow down the evaporation of tears, keeping the eyes moist. When the oil secretion is excessive, or if the skin becomes inflamed, the exit of the oil gland can become blocked. The oil then builds up inside the gland, creating a lump that resembles a stye. However, if a stye is not infected by bacteria, it will not cause pain or itching, only a visible lump on the eyelid.
Children generally have poor hygiene awareness and tend to rub their eyes. Rubbing their eyes without washing their hands can easily lead to a blockage of the oil gland outlet, forming a stye.
When styes first appear, the main treatment is "warm compresses" to use heat to clear blocked oil glands.
How to apply a hot compress
Soak the towel in hot water and place it on your eyes, reheating it as it cools.
While applying a warm compress, continue to massage your eyelids for about 10 to 15 minutes. This helps to open up the oil glands on your eyelids, allowing the blocked oil to slowly drain out.
Towels should be changed when they become cool.
It progresses 4 to 5 times a day, healing in about 2 weeks.
At the same time, daily care should also be sufficient, such as cleaning eyelids and reducing eye rubbing, to avoid the growth or infection of bacteria or viruses.
Dr Chan advised that eye styes can remain swollen for a period of time. If the eyes are rubbed with unwashed hands during this time due to discomfort, infection may occur, causing rapid redness and swelling of the eye stye and eyelid area. In such cases, a doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatory eye ointment containing antibiotics, or oral antibiotics for treatment.
The most troublesome thing about styes is that they often recur. Dr. Chan stated that if they recur frequently and cannot be cured by hot compresses and medication, surgery to remove the stye may be necessary. The surgery will be performed while the child is anaesthetised and asleep, and can be completed within minutes. Another situation where a stye fails to heal long-term is when it is triggered by "Demodex mites", which are parasites on eyelashes.
If a child frequently suffers from styes, parents should pay particular attention as it may be caused by eyelash parasites called "Demodex mites". This condition requires a sample of the child's eyelashes to be taken for examination to diagnose. It is recommended to take the child to see a specialist as soon as possible.
The above information was provided by Paediatric Specialist Dr. Chan Yan Wing.
