Barleycorn - TOBREX
July 22, 2013 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
I think I have a stye on my right eye, but I'm not sure. The local pharmacy gave me TOBREX 1) (tobramycin 0.3%) eye drops and claimed it is not a stye. Unfortunately, I won't be back in Germany for several weeks. There are no real symptoms. I noticed it about 3-4 days ago.
My question: Would TOBREX be the right medication for a stye, and is it possible to estimate from the attached photo what it is and which medication to take (please preferably one that is also available in Malta - if possible, please include the active ingredient).
Thank you!
1) TOBREX Eye Drops, Solution Formula tobramycin 3 mg, benzalkonium chloride 0.1 mg, boric acid, sodium sulphate anhydrous sodium ...
Company Alcon
Good evening,
What did the pharmacist call it then?
A stye (hordeolum) is an inflammation of the hair follicle/eyelid glands of the upper or lower eyelid. Since the causative agents are usually Staphylococci, antibiotic treatment is already indicated. What speaks against this diagnosis is that you have no pain and also no involvement of the conjunctiva. The latter could be because it is a so-called external stye, which does not affect the inside of the eyelid. The former, that in your case it is only a small inflammation, or a mini hair follicle gland.
The alternative diagnosis is a so-called chalazion. This is a benign non-bacterial swelling in the area of the eyelids. This can be the result of a resolved stye, or can occur spontaneously. Since these almost never disappear on their own, the only solution is surgical removal.
However, since there are clear signs of inflammation based on the image, one can assume for the time being that it is a small stye, even if the pharmacist does not consider it to be one. Inconsistently, he has started an antibiotic therapy, which is actually reasonable in the case of your stye. In my opinion, you should also supplement the medication with the active ingredient ibuprofen 400mg 2-3 tablets daily (ibuprofen is an NSAID that works against inflammation of all kinds). This active ingredient is available in all pharmacies worldwide and often available without a prescription.
Ointments are taboo around the eye, so the only option left for you is local heat application so that the pus can contract well and the stye can spontaneously drain outwards. It is strongly advised against any manual actions such as squeezing, as the pathogens can then enter the brain through the lymph and blood vessels, which could potentially lead to bacterial meningitis.
With the above measures, the inflammation usually subsides completely within 3-4 days.
With warm regards to Malta,
Yours sincerely, Dr. R. C. Berg
