How Did I Get a Stye?

A stye (medically called a hordeolum) is a common bacterial infection that develops when oil glands in your eyelid become blocked and infected. While they’re generally harmless, understanding why you developed a stye can help prevent future occurrences and guide proper treatment decisions.

What Exactly Is a Stye and How Does It Form?

A stye is a common eyelid infection that develops when bacteria—most commonly Staphylococcus aureus—infects the tiny oil glands along your lash line. At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, WA, we see these often, and they form through a specific four-stage process:

1. Gland Obstruction: Dead skin cells or thickened oil secretions block the gland’s opening, creating the initial problem.

2. Bacterial Colonization: Bacteria that naturally live on the skin, primarily Staphylococcus aureus, multiply rapidly within the blocked gland.

3. Inflammation Response: Your body’s immune system detects the infection, triggering swelling, redness, and tenderness.

4. Pus Formation: The battle between bacteria and your immune cells results in a visible, often painful bump filled with pus.

There are two primary types of styes we treat at our Seattle clinic:

• External Styes (Hordeolum): These form at the base of an eyelash follicle and are the most common type.

• Internal Styes: These develop deeper within the meibomian (oil-producing) glands of the eyelid.

The Most Common Ways You Get a Stye

Understanding how you get a stye is the first step toward prevention. At Cannon EyeCare, our Seattle eye doctors note that most infections stem from a few common, often avoidable, behaviors.

1. Poor Hand Hygiene and Frequent Eye Touching

The most common cause is transferring bacteria to your eyes with contaminated hands. Studies show we touch our faces up to 16 times per hour, often without realizing it. High-risk scenarios include:

• Rubbing tired eyes during long Seattle commutes or while staring at screens.

• Adjusting glasses or contacts with unwashed hands.

• Removing eye makeup without washing your hands first.

Seattle-Specific Insight: Our city’s spring pollen season and frequent rain can lead to increased eye irritation and rubbing, particularly in April and May.

2. Contaminated Makeup and Beauty Tools

Expired or shared cosmetics are a major source of bacteria. Mascara, for instance, can become contaminated within 90 days of opening.

• High-Risk Practices: Sharing makeup, using products past their expiration date, applying makeup with dirty brushes, and sleeping in it.

• Pro Tip from Our Experts: To minimize risk, replace mascara every 3 months and eyeliner every 6 months.

3. Contact Lens Mismanagement

Contact lens wearers are at higher risk due to frequent eye touching. Problematic behaviors include over-wearing lenses, using expired solution, and handling lenses with unclean hands.

• Seattle Lifestyle Note: Our love for hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities can increase exposure to contaminants. Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling lenses after an adventure.

4. Underlying Eyelid Conditions

Pre-existing conditions create a perfect environment for styes to form.

• Blepharitis: Chronic inflammation that allows bacteria to thrive.

• Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): Causes thick oils that easily block glands.

• Seborrheic Dermatitis: A skin condition that can cause inflammation on the eyelids.

Why Some People Get Styes More Often Than Others

If you seem to get styes more frequently than others, an underlying factor is likely at play. Our optometrists at Cannon EyeCare in Seattle find that recurrent styes are often linked to specific health conditions, lifestyle factors, and even our local environment.

Underlying Medical Conditions

Certain systemic health issues can significantly increase your susceptibility by compromising your body’s natural defenses.

• Diabetes: Affects immune function and slows healing, making it harder to fight off bacterial infections like styes.

• Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can suppress normal immune responses.

• Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause can alter oil production and immune function.

Lifestyle and Stress Factors

Chronic stress directly impacts your physical health, including your eye health. It elevates cortisol levels, which can suppress your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infections. Seattle-specific stressors that can contribute include:

• The mental fatigue of navigating I-5 or 520 during rush hour.

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) occurs during our long, gray winters.

• High-pressure work environments in the tech industry.

• Sleep disruption from our exceptionally bright summer evenings.

Environmental & Occupational Risks in Seattle

Our unique Pacific Northwest environment presents specific challenges.

• Air Quality: Summer wildfire smoke can irritate eyes and weaken local immune defenses on the eyelid.

• Seasonal Allergies: High pollen counts from cedar, alder, and grass lead to eye rubbing, which transfers bacteria.

• Occupational Hazards: Healthcare workers, construction crews, and lab technicians in the area have higher exposure to irritants and more frequent hand-to-face contact.

Sudden Stye Onset: Understanding Trigger Events

Many patients at our Seattle clinic ask, “Why did I get a stye out of the blue?” A first-time stye is often triggered by a specific, recent event that disrupts your normal routine or compromises your immunity.

Common Lifestyle Triggers

Sudden changes can create the perfect conditions for a stye to develop.

• New Medications: Starting prescriptions that affect your immune system.

• Increased Stress: A new job, personal life events, or other significant changes.

• Travel: Disrupted hygiene routines while on the road.

• New Products: Introducing a new brand of eye makeup, skincare, or contact lenses.

Seasonal and Environmental Factors

Research shows stye incidence peaks during specific times of the year, which aligns with patterns we see in Seattle.

• Spring (March-May): High pollen counts lead to allergic eye rubbing.

• Winter (December-February): Dry, heated indoor air irritates eyes, and the cold season means more hand-to-face contact.

• Back-to-School Periods: Increased exposure to germs in crowded environments.

Temporary Immune System Challenges

Your body’s defenses can be temporarily weakened, allowing a minor bacterial invasion to take hold.

• Recent colds, flu, or other viral infections.

• Chronic sleep deprivation (consistently less than 7 hours nightly).

• Poor diet or dehydration.

• Recovery from surgery or another illness.

Age and Hormonal Considerations

• Children & Teens: Are more prone due to developing hygiene habits, sports contact, and the hormonal changes of puberty.

• Adults: Women, in particular, may experience styes linked to hormonal fluctuations during their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause.

• Older Adults: Face a higher risk due to age-related immune decline, multiple medications, and chronic conditions like diabetes.

Environmental Factors Specific to Seattle

Living in the Pacific Northwest comes with a unique set of environmental conditions that can impact your eye health. At Cannon EyeCare, we understand these Seattle-specific factors and how they contribute to conditions like styes.

Our Climate’s Impact on Eye Health

Seattle’s marine climate presents distinct challenges for eyelid hygiene.

• High Humidity: Promotes bacterial and mold growth on personal items left in bathrooms or damp spaces.

• Frequent Rain: Leads to more time indoors with dry, heated air that can irritate eyes and compromise the protective tear film.

• Limited Winter Sunlight: May contribute to reduced vitamin D levels, which plays a role in immune function.

Urban Environmental Factors

The very things that make our city beautiful can also irritate your eyes.

• Air pollution from traffic, especially along major commuter corridors.

• High pollen counts from our abundant greenery, parks, and gardens.

• Indoor allergens like mold, which thrives in our humid climate.

Prevention Strategies for Seattle Residents

Protecting your eyes requires a consistent routine tailored to our local environment.

Daily Eye Hygiene Protocol

Establishing simple habits can significantly reduce your risk.

• Morning Routine: Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face or applying makeup. Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers around the eye area.

• Evening Routine: Remove all eye makeup completely. Consider washing eyelids with a specialized cleanser or diluted baby shampoo. If prone to styes, a warm compress for 5-10 minutes can help keep glands clear.

Makeup and Contact Lens Safety

Proper product care is crucial in our humid climate.

• Replacement Schedule: Adhere strictly to expiration timelines—mascara every 3 months, liquid eyeliner every 6 months, and eyeshadow every 12-18 months.

• Safe Practices: Never share eye makeup. Avoid pumping mascara wands, which introduces bacteria. Remove makeup before workouts or sleeping.

Local Stress Management

Given Seattle’s fast-paced environment, managing stress is part of eye health.

• Embrace Nature: Counter stress with our numerous hiking trails, parks, and water activities.

• Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours despite our long summer daylight hours.

• Community Engagement: Connect with Seattle’s vibrant neighborhoods and social groups to combat isolation.

When to Seek Professional Help at Cannon EyeCare

While most styes heal with at-home care, certain warning signs indicate you need professional medical attention. Our Seattle eye doctors at Cannon EyeCare recommend seeking immediate care if you experience any of the following:

Seek Immediate Care For:

• Vision changes or difficulty moving your eye.

• Severe pain that disrupts your sleep or daily activities.

• Fever, chills, or redness that spreads across your cheek or face.

• Multiple styes are developing at the same time.

• A stye that shows no improvement after one week of consistent home treatment.

Schedule an Appointment With Us If:

• You experience recurring styes (more than 3 per year).

• You have an underlying condition like diabetes or an autoimmune disorder.

• You have questions about proper treatment techniques or eyelid hygiene.

• You are concerned about potential scarring or cosmetic complications.

Comprehensive Stye Care at Our Seattle Clinic

At Cannon EyeCare, we provide expert diagnosis and advanced treatment options, including:

• In-Office Treatments: Professional warm compress therapy and safe, sterile lancing (incision and drainage) for severe, persistent styes.

• Prescription Medications: Topical or oral antibiotics to fight stubborn bacterial infections.

• Personalized Prevention Plans: Counseling and education on eyelid hygiene tailored to your lifestyle and Seattle’s environment.