Sties among students

A sty is a red lump near the edge of the eyelid that accumulates bacteria in your oil gland. Sties can cause pain or itchy feeling around the eye, swollen eyelids, eye pus or tearing, and redness around the eye. Sties are extremely contagious, especially among students who dorm together.

Eye sties can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and/or allergies. Leaving makeup on overnight, rubbing your eye excessively, and trying to extend the life of old contact lenses may cause bacteria to accumulate around the oil glands around your eye.

Once you have a sty, if you don't wash your hands after touching your eye, every surface you touch is contaminated. Living in a dorm in close quarters can be harmful. Most students are not aware that they can spread viruses to their roommates very easily. Here at EMA Care, we recommend:

• Wash your hand very frequently to avoid contaminating others.
• Wash off eye makeup at the end of every day, preferably with an oil-free makeup remover.
• Don't share eye makeup with anyone unless you use alcohol to remove the bacteria from the makeup.
• Wash your bedding and especially your pillow covers frequently.
• Throw out old makeup applicators

Home remedies:

To treat the sty:  Apply clean, warm compresses to the area. Warm compresses open up the sty and drain it from extra fluids.  Do this for 15-minute intervals up to five times per day. Some people recommend using tea bags to reduce swelling.

It is essential not to squeeze or pop the sty because it is likely to cause an infection and damage your eye. If the sty hasn't gone away within a few days, see a doctor. A doctor will give you antibiotics and, in some cases, want to remove the sty by draining it.

If you are in a school with EMA Care clinics, we advise you to come and see the nurse or doctor.  You will be prescribed the appropriate ointments that are found in Israeli pharmacies. The clinician will refer you to an ophthalmologist, if necessary.

From everyone at EMA Care, we wish you a healthy winter!