Styes and chalazion - Pimple of the eyelids
Dr S. Chidambaranathan B.H.M.S, M.D Homeopathy Doctor Madurai (Treatment avail for all people around the world)
Eye is an incomparable device responsible for vision or sight. Eyelids are the windshields or the gateway of the eye that works superbly in protecting, moistening and cleaning with the tear – the natural antiseptic lotion for guarding the eye against bacteria. Eyelids wipe the eye involuntarily with tears during blinking normally, around 4-6 times per minute. The eyelids are made up of skin, loose connective tissues, muscular tissues, tarsus (dense fibrous layer), fascia and conjunctiva. As like normal skin, eyelids do have sweat glands and hair roots. There are three types of glands present in the eyelids. Sweat glands present at the margin of eyelids are unusually large and called Glands of Moll. Sebaceous glands in hair root follicles are called as glands of Zei’s. Sebaceous glands in deeper layer tarsus are called as meibomian glands. Glands of Moll and Zei’s are superficial, so they are easily prone to infection and blockage of duct with cell debris and oil or sebum. The blockage duct makes swelling of the glands which are called as styes.
Styes and chalazions occur mostly in adolescents of fair complexion with refractive errors. Their incidence is also more in people who use cosmetics on the eyelashes. Also, it is more common in people who suffer from pimples. Men are predominantly affected more than women. The reason for their incidence in men, adolescents and people who are fair is understood less.
- Red painful odematous swelling occurs on the edge of the eyelid
- Usually it lasts for 1-2 weeks
- Usually it is present as a small one and grows gradually and becomes hard and finally ends as pustule. White or yellow point head appears and evacuates everything and gets healed
- Pus points appear mostly on the outer side of the eyelid and along the edge of the eyelid
- Watery eyes due to irritation of the swelling
- Glaring of lights and blurred vision
- For chalazion
- Chalazion appears as a small eruption usually away from the eyelid margin
- It grows slowly to a size of 6-7 mm and takes months to get resolved
- Initially there may be pain, but later there won’t be any pain since there is no infection.
- Its projection is mostly on conjunctiva side or inner side of eyelid.
- Glaring of lights and blurred vision
- Watery eyes due to irritation of the swelling
Diagnosis – Examination of eye and eyelids by ophthamologist is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out any intraocular pathology.
In case of stye
- Infective nodule is present at the edge of the eyelid margin
- Simply plucking the hair in the stye area will evacuate the pus
- Fever and pain may be present in some severe cases
- Lymph nodes enlargement can be seen in front of the ear
- Culture and sensitivity tests are to be done to find out infectious bacteria
- Lump is always present away from the eyelid margin
- Painless nodule
- Biopsy should be performed in the case of large and stubborn ones to rule out other complication like tumour or cancer
Clean
- Keep your hand, eyes & eye lashes clean by washing often
- Don’t share eye make-up kit or otherwise wipe it before use
- Stress and strain to eyes especially working for a long time on the computer
- Touching, rubbing or squeezing your eyes which will usually spread the infection and also cause redness
- Contact of hair with the eyes
- Nutritious diet, especially food rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, and magnesium and zinc to improve general health
- Plenty of water and juices
- Warm applications for relieving the pain, to soften the hardened blocked duct, to promote drainage and healing process. It also speeds up the forming of pointer head for letting out the pus.
For chalazion – no drugs are administered. They simply wait for the chalazion’s own schedule of going or otherwise they simply remove it surgically. In this case also it tends to recur. Also for chalazion, some doctors use steroid drops and medicine where quick relief is guaranteed but not in preventing recurrences.
Surgery – In extreme painful cases, if the chalazion remains as it is and does not go off on its own even after several months of treatment, then surgery is performed as a last resort for removal. In case of styes, surgical drains are performed in stubborn cases.
In case of styes, the habit of picking, pinching, rubbing also hinder the curing process and add to the infection. Also, when it is not properly cured, the disease often repeats and become tendencies. There are two effects of the curing process. One is promoting suppuration to speed up the let out process and healing and another one is making it dissolve slowly. The first method is often noticed in styes and the second in chalazion. Some people are satisfied with the let out process (and feel as if they had eliminated the diseased content of the body). This occurs often in styes. It breaks, releasing the pus and thus the swelling may go away. Otherwise, the swelling may take a long time to get reduced. One of the most common reasons why people seek Homeopathic care is that the cure will be permanent and the treatment has no side-effects. Homeopathic medicines may also help dissolve the styes and chalazion. These complaints can be easily claimed as non-surgical complaints in Homeopathy