The simplest discomfort in the eyes can stress you out even more, especially when you’re too worked up to notice its root cause. And if you’re wondering, ‘Are eye styes caused by stress?’ Your concerns are justified because the degree of stress is varied among people, and so are its outcomes. From a mere headache to being hospitalized and, ultimately, death, stress can do much more harm than you can imagine.
Ophthalmologists or eye specialist doctors are skilled in diagnosing eye styes and treating them with utmost care. You may have noticed a small red bump resembling a pimple on the edge or corner of your upper or lower eyelid. This bump is a hordeolum, also known as a stye, which occurs due to some blockage in any of the oil glands that line your eyelids.
Whenever the word ‘microorganism’ or ‘microbe’ is used, it most commonly refers to bacterium – plural: bacteria. The blockage in the oil glands of the eyelid lining is a bacterial infection. Therefore, the typical reason for styes is the invasion of microbes, causing infections.
How to Recognize a Stye?
An eye stye usually appears as a small or large boil or pimple filled with pus. Most of the styles occur outside the eyes – on the eyelids. However, they also happen inside the eyes. In the majority of cases, styes affect only one vision at a time.
It is fascinating to learn about the presence of oil glands in our eyes. These oil or sebaceous glands help provide ample lubrication to prevent the entry of foreign irritating particles in the eyes.
Difference Between Blepharitis, Styes, and Chalazion
Studying the essential differential factors between blepharitis, styes, and chalazion can reveal the answer to ‘Are eye styes caused by stress?’ or ‘Can stress cause styes?’. Let’s find out the answers.
Red, swollen, and burning sensations in the eyes are typical symptoms of blepharitis. This condition usually occurs due to bacteria or oily flakes at the base of eyelashes.
A stye is a clinical condition affecting the eyes in which a pimple or sore lump grows from the base of eyelashes or under the eyelid. However, chalazion is also an obstacle in the oil glands that results from inflammation and appears red and tender while forming.
Being non-clinical and non-infectious, chalazion can grow in size and cause more pain which temporarily puts weight on the eye – creating a temporary hindrance in vision. Healthcare professionals may use the same treatment methods for both styes and chalazion because both are similar to each other; the terms are also used interchangeably. Chalazion either goes away or persists, often requiring surgical removal treatments.
Blepharitis, stress, and fatigue are a few associative factors that trigger chalazion.
Are Eye Styes Caused by Stress?
Many scientific evidences suggest that the direct relationship between styes and stress is idiopathic. However, stress and lack of sleep can increase the risk. In addition, poor hygienic status can also cause eye infections.
One of the explanations justifies the relationship between stress and eye styes. Lack of adequate sleep on time compromises the efficiency of the immune system by affecting the ability of lymphocytes or T-cells, which makes you susceptible to such infections; styes could be one of them.
Sometimes, you’re too tired to cleanse your eyes. Improper or not removing eye makeup, leftover debris from certain products, seasonal changes, and allergic reactions can trigger the production of bacteria in the oil glands of the eyes, causing styes.
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In addition, infection in any hair follicles of the upper or lower eyelashes can cause bacterial infection, giving rise to eye styes.
How to Treat Eye Styes?
Typically, styes do not require pampered hospital treatments because they can be cured either on their own or using effective home remedies and timely management of balanced meals – the most neglected remedy to all ailments. Moreover, consulting your healthcare provider to incorporate at least a whole supplement or multi vitamin for women and men proves beneficial in all aspects.
Some practical options for home remedies include:
Gently wash the eyelid with a mild or tear-free product – it could be a shampoo or soap.
Applying saline solution breaks down the bacterial infection.
Using damp and warm compresses against the affected eye area to ease inflammation.
Conclusion
Summarizing the discussion on ‘Are eye styes caused by stress?’, it is concluded that there is no direct relationship between stress and styes, but other relevant factors such as lack of sleep and poor hygiene practices negatively impact your eye health. Styes are usually treated with simple home remedies. However, using certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications is safe if severe pain persists. Having adequate sleep and learning how to boost immune system when sick would be a great help. Seeking professional healthcare is recommended if the stye is worsening instead of vanishing.