Both of these problems can be resulting from bacteria and have similar symptoms.
However, there are ways to tell them apart.
Sometimes they have to be treated differently.
Verywell / Daniel Fishel
This article will discuss the similarities and differences between blepharitis and styes.
Verywell / Daniel Fishel
Symptoms
Both blepharitis andstyescan cause painful swelling or inflammation of your eyelid.
While these two conditions share some symptoms, there are some clear differences.
Blepharitis usually affects the whole eyelid.
Causes
Staphylococcus aureus bacteriaare a common cause of bothblepharitisand styes.
They can also both be resulting from blockages in the glands along the eyelid.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of blepharitis and styes is done after a closephysical examination of the eye.
Your doctor may use bright lights or a magnifier.
Cultures, or samples of discharge, may be taken to identify the bacteria causing the conditions.
Which Came First?
In some cases, your doctor may diagnose you with both blepharitis and a stye.
Inflammation could begin as blepharitisespecially when it’s chronicand progress to form a stye.
Beyond that, there are subtle differences in how these conditions are managed.
However, you should never squeeze a stye.
Antibiotics and warm compresses can help treat both styes and blepharitis.
Prevention
Keeping your eyes clean is key to preventing both blepharitis and styes.
take a stab at avoid oil and dirt buildup in and around your eyes.
Practice good eye hygiene by cleaning your eyes gently and regularly.
Avoid massaging or squeezing a stye.
Styes can develop again and aren’t usually chronic, unlike blepharitis, which can be a chronic condition.
Blepharitis is usually a chronic problem that can cause inflammation and swelling along your eyelid.
Styes can usually be resolved with treatment, but blepharitis is chronic in many cases.
Talk to your doctor about how to manage chronic eyelid irritation.
Carlisle RT, Digiovanni J.Differential diagnosis of the red swollen eyelid.Am Fam Physician.92(2):106-112.
American Optometric Association.Hordeolum (stye).
