stye

Barley Grain: Short Overview

• Definition: Acute purulent inflammation on the edge of the eyelid
• Reason: Bacteria that infect certain glands in the eyelids
• Typical symptoms: red, painful and pressure-sensitive knot inside or outside the lid margin
• investigations: Eye diagnosis, slit lamp examination
• Treatment options: dry heat (red light bulb), possibly antibiotic ointments and drops, antiseptic ointment
• complications: Inflammation of the eye socket and / or conjunctiva, lid abscess
• Prevent: Ensure sufficient hand and eye hygiene

Barley grain: causes

In most cases, a bacterial infection causes a barley grain. The exact cause is common staphylococci, more precisely Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes. Rarely, streptococcal infections cause a barley grain. These bacterial strains are mainly in the mouth and throat.

When these bacteria enter the eye, they can infect certain glands on the eyelids. This is how a barley grain is made. Depending on which glands are affected, one differentiates:

• inner barley grain (Hordeolum internum): Here, so-called meibomian glands are inflamed. These are sebaceous glands on the inner edge of the eyelid. They release a special liquid that mixes with the tear fluid and prevents it from evaporating prematurely.
• outer barley grain (Hordeolum externum): It is caused by inflammation of the Moll or Zeis glands. These are sweat and sebaceous glands on the lid. Outer barley grains are less common than inner ones.

If a barley grain occurs more frequently, or even several barley grains form at the same time, doctors speak of Hordeolosis, She should always be clarified by a doctor. Often, a weakened immune system is behind it, perhaps as a result of previously unrecognized diabetes (diabetes mellitus).

Barley grain: risk factors

One weakened immune system favors the emergence of a barley grain. The immune deficiency can be based on stress or some other illness. For example, barley grain is a common side effect of diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus).

A barley grain often occurs in connection with acne.

Since the causative agent of barley is contagious and occurs on the skin, a Hordeolum can also originate in lack of hygiene or wrong care of the eyes to have. By unwashed hands, the pathogens easily get in the eye, if you rub your eyes. Thorough hand washing is therefore an important measure to prevent a barley grain.

Children are more susceptible to barley grain than adults because their immune system is not fully developed. Also that they play more often in the dirt and then put in the face, should be a reason for this.

Symptoms: You recognize a barley grain

In the case of a barley grain, the sebaceous and sweat glands of the eyelid become inflamed. This manifests itself in a reddened node on the upper or lower lid margin. Typical barley grain symptoms are also:

• distension
• strong pain
• red eyelid
• swollen eyelid
• pressure sensitivity
• pus formation

Depending on which glands are affected by the inflammation, the symptoms occur in different places on the eye.

One inner barley grain (Hordeolum internum) occurs on the inside of the eyelid and is often not visible from the outside. Only by folding the eyelid outwards does it become visible.

The affected eyelid is initially swollen and reddened and thickened then. In rare cases, an internal barley grain also affects the conjunctiva of the eye and can cause conjunctivitis and swelling of the conjunctiva (chemosis).

The outer barley grain (Hordeolum externum) refers to the Moll or Zeis glands that lie on the edge of the eyelid. The typical barley grain symptoms (swelling and redness of the lid) occur in this form in the eyelash area. At the beginning, a reddish, painful, pus-filled nodule appears, which is easily recognizable externally.

In a barley grain, symptoms such as fever or swollen lymph nodes rarely occur in front of the ears. If the disease is severe, the inflammation may spread to the orbit (orbital phlegmon) or cause abscesses.

Although it is easy to identify a barley grain because of its symptoms, you should still consult an ophthalmologist to rule out other eye diseases.

Barley grain: examinations and diagnosis

Usually, a barley grain on the eyelid heals on its own after a few days. Nevertheless, a medical examination is advisable. Thus, possible complications can often be avoided and other causes of the inflammation excluded. Especially if conjunctivitis occurs as a result of a barley grain, further investigations are necessary.

visual diagnosis

An external barley grain on the eye, the doctor can already detect by eye diagnosis: It shows by a clearly visible swelling and a reddish, filled with pus knots, similar to a pimple, in the eyelashes.

An internal barley grain is often not recognizable at first glance, because in this case the glands on the inner edge of the eye are inflamed. In this case, the doctor will carefully fold the eyelid to examine the inside of the eyelid and, if necessary, to detect the site of inflammation.

Slit lamp examination

When a barley grain in the eye of the doctor performs a so-called slit lamp examination: With the help of a microscope and a special lamp (slit lamp), the physician can look at the eye enlarged. He examines especially the following structures on the eye:

• the eyelids
• the lid edges
• the conjunctiva
• the tear film
• the tear meniscus

Exclusion of other diseases

In his investigations, the doctor must rule out other causes that are suitable for inflammation of the eye. For example, a barley grain is very similar to a hailstone (chalazion) and easily confused with it. It is a chronic inflammation of the meibomian gland, which is not purulent and does not hurt. This is usually caused by a blocked gland duct.

Barley grain: treatment

A barley grain is an annoying and painful matter. Especially the latter can worry people concerned and they are unsure what they can do with a barley grain.

Under no circumstances should you express a barley grain! It can easily happen that the infectious pathogens, for example, be kidnapped into the healthy eye and the inflammation spreads further.

As unpleasant as the barley grain may be: in most cases it heals by itself. After a few days it opens, the pus flows off and the inflammation goes back. As a rule, no special barley grain treatment is needed at the doctor.

However, there are several ways to help and speed up the healing process of a barley grain:

Barley grain treatment with dry heat

One way to treat a barley grain is to apply local dry heat in the form of red light. You can also carry out this barley grain therapy at home.

The barley grain – more precisely the closed eye – is irradiated three times a day for ten minutes each with a red light lamp. The heat through the red light bulb promotes blood circulation in the eye. The barley grain opens faster, allowing the pus to drain.

Discuss a red light application with your doctor. He can explain the exact procedure to you. He will also tell you what to do when using red light, especially if you are taking medication, or when taking eye care.

Moist heat is not advisable!

The application of moist heat is often recommended as a barley grain therapy, for example in the form of moist warm compresses or compresses. But most doctors advise against that. Moist heat in fact promotes the pathogens being carried off further: the moisture softens the skin and the bacteria can spread more easily.

Barley grain: treatment with eye ointment and drops

To support the barley grain therapy, your doctor may also use eye ointments or eye drops with a antibiotic agent prescribe. The antibiotics work against the bacteria that cause the barley grain. Frequently the eye drops are used during the day and the ointment at night. They prevent the inflammation from spreading further.

Such antibiotics in ointment or drop form are very often used in an inner barley grain: Here, the danger is particularly great that the inflammation spreads to the conjunctiva and the eye socket. This can cause conjunctivitis or inflammation of the eye socket (orbital phlegmon).

A barley grain treatment with antibiotic-containing tablets is only necessary if the inflammation has already spread.

Sometimes a barley grain becomes one too disinfectant (antiseptic) eye ointment used, such as the active ingredient Bibrocathol.

Barley grain: Operative opening by the doctor

In rare cases, a barley grain does not open by itself, and the inflammation lasts longer. Then a small intervention by a doctor (usually ophthalmologist) is necessary. This opens the barley grain under local anesthesia carefully with a small cut, so that the pus can drain off.

Barley grain: home remedies

Many people use home remedies for a barley grain. These include, for example, moist warm compresses (such as with chamomile tea) as well as warm circulation and poultice. Doctors often advise caution here. Such home remedies can sometimes do more harm than good. For example, moist compresses can soften the skin on the eye and promote the carryover of bacteria.

The best home remedy for barley seeds (and other diseases) is a strong immune system. Because then it has the pathogens that cause the eye infection, harder to multiply. With a healthy, vitamin-rich diet and exercise, you can effectively support your body’s defenses.

Which home remedies for a barley grain circulate in detail and what you should know about it, read in the article barley grain – home remedies.

Barley grain: disease course and prognosis

The prognosis for a barley grain on the eye is usually good, the course unproblematic. In most cases, the barley grain heals by itself: after a few days, it opens, and the pus flows off.

Only in rare cases complications occur with a barley grain in the eye. The most common are:

• Inflammation of the conjunctiva: A barley grain can cause conjunctivitis. Swelling of the conjunctiva (chemosis) is also possible.
• Inflammation of the eye socket: In a severe disease, the inflammation can extend to the orbit (orbital phlegmon). But that rarely happens.
• Lidabszess: In exceptional cases, a barley grain can also cause eyelid abscesses in severe disease. An abscess is also called pus or pus.

How to prevent a barley grain

Since a barley grain is contagious, you should pay attention to proper hand and eye hygiene. The pathogens live on the skin and mucous membranes and easily get in the eye via the hands. Therefore, wash your hands regularly and do not touch your eyes with dirty hands.

Contact lens wearers need to wash their hands very thoroughly, as they must be aware of when inserting and removing the vision aid. Make sure that you always keep your contact lenses properly and clean them thoroughly. This prevents infections on the eye like a barley grain.

If there is already an infection, you should do that stye do not touch. If you then unconsciously reach for the healthy eye with that hand, it can also become infected.