Is barley in the eye contagious?

Barley on the eyelid, called in the medical terms Chalazion or Hordeolum, is a common eye condition that sometimes causes discomfort, local irritation and aesthetic disturbance. The stye usually appears as a red, swollen bump on the eyelid and can be quite disturbing for the patient. Common questions that arise among patients with barley are – how do you treat it, how do you prevent the barley from returning and is it a contagious condition?
In this article we will delve into what causes barley to develop, the treatment required for treatment at the time of appearance and the prevention of subsequent cases, as well as the question of whether there is a need to fear infection.

What is barley on the eyelid and why does it develop?

Our tear fluid normally consists of a watery component secreted by the lacrimal gland and a fatty component secreted by special glands (Meibomian glands) located all along the border of the upper and lower eyelids of both eyes. Some of the population has a tendency to excessively thick secretion from these glands, which causes blockage of the glands and the formation of a local inflammatory process, which is usually not infectious. A secondary infection by bacteria that naturally live on our facial skin (mainly Staphylococcus aureus) may be added to this situation and make the inflammation even worse.
The patient will often complain of swelling and sensitivity at the edge of the eyelid that gets worse and worse, and can also cause irritation of the eye itself. At the edge of the swelling area, you can sometimes see a white "head" or even a purulent discharge when applying gentle pressure to the area.

Is the barley contagious?

Now, let's address the question of whether the barley on the eyelid is contagious or not. The short answer is – no. As mentioned, a significant part of warts are not infectious at all, and even those that are, are caused by the bacteria present on the person's skin, and not by infection from another person.

However, it is important to note that direct exposure to the purulent discharge that may come out of the barley when pressed may indeed result in the transfer of bacteria from person to person, therefore, as in any situation of suspected eye infection, one should avoid sharing personal items such as towels, pillowcases or makeup brushes.

How do you treat barley?

It is important to know – most barley cases will go away on their own under treatment that can be carried out in any home. The key here is patience, as this may take anywhere from a week to over a month.

The main treatment in these situations is placing warm compresses on the swollen eyelid area, when you can use a bottle with warm water, a pillow or a dedicated mask that can be bought at the various pharmacy chains. In order to avoid burns, make sure that the temperature of the hot compress is warm, but not to the extent that it causes discomfort during use. The compress is attached to the swollen area and left in place for 10 minutes. After removing the compress, gently massage the location of the swelling with the tip of your finger to help the blocked gland to drain. It is important to perform this operation gently and without exerting significant pressure on the eyeball itself (and also without touching the eye directly, but only the eyelid). This combined operation must be repeated twice a day – in the morning and in the evening.

If the swelling and redness are significant and bother you a lot, it is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist regarding the addition of topical treatment which may include a weak steroid and topical antibiotics.
If the redness and swelling become widespread (beyond what appears in the first picture in this article), there is severe pain, blurred vision or a limitation in the ability to move the eye – you must urgently contact an ophthalmologist for evaluation to rule out the appearance of a widespread infection.

Another treatment option available to the ophthalmologist, especially in repeated/prolonged cases of barley, is oral antibiotic treatment with drugs that have been proven to improve the secretion of the fatty component of the tears and reduce the inflammatory process underlying the formation of barley.

In cases where the swelling and redness continue beyond a month without a clear trend of improvement, an ophthalmologist can be consulted to consider surgical drainage of the barley. It is important to note again that most cases will pass under the treatments described above, without the need for surgical intervention.

How to prevent the appearance of barley next time?

It is important to understand that whoever has barley once, most likely has an increased tendency for barley to appear in the future as well (in the same place or in a different location on the eyelids), and this is in light of the structure and function of the glands at the border of his eyelid.

But there is no need to fear – there are relatively simple daily actions that can be taken to reduce the risk of barley reappearing.

1. Take care of eyelid hygiene: gently clean the eyelids with warm water and soap (preferably baby shampoo or a dedicated mousse for cleaning the eyelids) to remove excess oil, debris and bacteria from the area of ​​the eyelashes and the edge of the eyelid.

2. Continue the hot compress routine (without the local massage) even when you feel well and barley-free. The compresses will help to soften the contents of the glands at the border of the eyelid, which will reduce the chance of their repeated blockage.

3. In recurring events, you should contact an ophthalmologist to identify additional risk factors for recurrent hives that may require special treatment, such as the presence of the demodex parasite on your facial skin. If this parasite is diagnosed – there is a special ointment that will be recommended by your ophthalmologist and can help you.

4. There are currently additional treatments on the market for cases of recurrent styes and dry eye caused secondary to the same blockage of the glands at the eyelid border, the most prominent of which is the IPL device (Intense pulsed light) which helps reduce the local inflammatory process and soften the contents of the glands for several months at a time. You can consult your eye doctor regarding the need for this treatment.

Credit: Dr. Margarita Sapir

Link to the website: https://drsafir.co.il