Difference Between Blepharitis and Stye

Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelid margins usually extending into the lashes and their follicles. A stye, on the other hand, is basically a pus-filled cyst. This is the key difference between blepharitis and stye. A stye actually can be considered as a sequel of blepharitis. Considering the symptoms, the main difference between blepharitis and stye is that the stye is generally painful and reddish but, the blepharitis is asymptomatic most of the time, but patients may occasionally have itchy burning eyes.

Blepharitis and styes extremely common coexisting conditions that are due to various reasons ranging from dysfunctional glands to infection by Staphylococcal aureus.

CONTENT

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Blepharitis
3. What is Stye
4. Similarities Between Blepharitis and Stye
5. Side by Side Comparison – Blepharitis vs Stye in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Blepharitis?

Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelid margins usually extending into the lashes and their follicles. This condition can have association with the blockage of meibomian glands and the occurrence of styes. Moreover, the commonest causes of blepharitis include seborrhea, functional abnormalities of the meibomian glands and infection by Staphylococcus aureus.

Patients are asymptomatic most of the time but occasionally can have itchy burning eyes. When associated with staphylococcal infection, there is a risk of developing keratitis.

Lid hygiene can decrease the bacterial content and relieve blocked meibomian glands. In longstanding blepharitis, a usual prescription  is chloramphenicol. However, when the patient has got a severe attack or suspect an acnea rosacea, oral doxycycline is given. In rare cases, patients can be left with a lump in the eyelid even after the initial inflammation has subsided. Incision and curettage of the lump can also be carried out if the patient is concerned about its cosmetic appearance.  

What is a Stye?

A stye is a pus-filled cyst. There are two categories of styes depending on the location; the two groups are internal styes and external styes. Both of these conditions are red and painful.

External styes arise on the outer surface of the eyelid and resolve on their own within several days. Internal styes arise on the internal surface of the eyelids and may appear to be reddish and edematous. Styes are most often due to staphylococcal infection of the eyelid.

Stye does not require treatment unless there is an associated visual impairment or if the stye persists for more than several days. In this case, antibiotics are prescribed to control the infectious agents.

What is the Similarity Between Blepharitis and Stye

• Both conditions can be due to the infection of the eyelids by Staphylococcus

What is the Difference Between Blepharitis and Stye?

Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelid margins usually extending into the lashes and their follicles. Stye, on the other hand, is a pus-filled cyst. The commonest causes of blepharitis include seborrhea, functional abnormalities of the meibomian glands and infection by Staphylococcus aureus. Styes are most often due to staphylococcal infection of the eyelid.  They are generally painful and reddish. However, Blepharitis is asymptomatic most of the time, but patients may occasionally have itchy burning eyes.

Summary – Blepharitis vs Stye

In conclusion, blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelid margins usually extending into the lashes and their follicles whereas a stye is a cyst that is filled with pus. Moreover, a stye is a sequel of blepharitis. This is the main difference between blepharitis and stye.

Reference:

1. Kumar, Parveen J., and Michael L. Clark. Kumar & Clark clinical medicine. Edinburgh: W.B. Saunders, 2009.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Blepharitis” By clubtable – Own work (Original text: eigenes Foto) (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “External hordeolum” By Imrankabirhossain – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia