A stye, commonly known as a "stye" or "eye sore," refers to a small boil that develops on the edge of the eyelid. Since the eyelid is internally connected to the spleen and stomach, which are associated with the earth element, it is also referred to as a "stye" or "earth sore."

This condition, Neijing refers to as "canthus sore." Suwen．Qijiaobian Da Lun states: "When the year's metal is excessive, dryness qi prevails, the liver wood is afflicted, and people suffer from pain in the lower abdomen under both ribs, red eye pain, canthus sores, and deafness." Sui Dynasty. Chao Yuan-fangZhubing Yuanhou Lun refers to it as a "stye," pointing out that this condition is caused by "heat qi lodging between the canthus, and heat clashing with body fluids to form it." Song Dynasty. Yang Shiying's "Zhizhi Fang" refers to it as "stealing needle." Ming Dynasty. Wang Ken-tangZhengzhi Zhunsheng refers to it as a "stye." Additionally, there are other colloquial names such as "stealing needle nest," "pearl pouch," and "picking needle."

This condition and "reddened eyelid" both occur on the edge of the eyelid, but a stye is milder, often presenting as a localized small boil; "reddened eyelid" is more severe, presenting as a diffuse swelling sore, and should be clinically distinguished. It has been discussed in a separate section and is not within the scope of this condition.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Wind-heat External Contraction︰The symptoms include localized grade I redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the eyelid, with a relatively confined lesion. Palpation reveals a hard nodule and tenderness, often more pronounced near the canthus. Initially, there is mild itching and slight swelling, followed by reddening, pain, and tenderness to touch. Mild cases resolve spontaneously within a few days, while severe cases may rupture and expel pus before healing. Generally, there are no significant systemic symptoms, but in severe cases, fever and chills, a floating and rapid pulse, and other signs of an exterior heat pattern may appear. This condition arises from external invasion of wind-heat pathogens lodging in the eyelid, obstructing the meridians and leading to local qi and blood stasis. Ocular symptoms are mild initially, with slight redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which gradually intensify into severe redness, swelling, and pain. The condition may resolve spontaneously or rupture and heal within a few days. There are no obvious systemic symptoms or only mild manifestations of an external contraction pattern of common cold due to wind and heat. Treatment involves dispersing wind and clearing heat, with the prescription of Lonicera and Forsythia Powder.
2. Exuberance of Heat Toxin︰The eyelid is markedly red, swollen, hot, and painful, or the swelling extends to the cheek and forehead, or the white of the eye is swollen, with localized redness, swelling, and pain that worsens at night. Accompanied by fever, severe constipation, a red tongue, and a wiry, rapid pulse. This is often caused by excessive consumption of spicy and fried foods, leading to the accumulation and upward surge of heat toxin, resulting in this condition. The eyelid shows significant redness, swelling, heat, and pain, and in severe cases, the white of the eye becomes swollen with unbearable itching and pain, worsening at night. Due to heat accumulation in the spleen and stomach, symptoms such as constipation, thirst, and a yellow tongue coating are present. Treatment involves dispelling wind, clearing heat, and removing toxin, using the Decoction for Clearing Heat from Spleen and Stomach.
3. Deficiency of Both Qi and Yin︰The eyelid is swollen like a bean, painful to touch, and may feel either soft or hard upon pressure, with mild redness and swelling. It is accompanied by fatigue, reluctance to speak, chest tightness, severe constipation, late afternoon tidal fever, a red tongue with thin white coating, and a thready rapid pulse. This is commonly seen in Rebing patients due to qi deficiency leading to impaired transportation and transformation, yin deficiency resulting in internal heat and deficiency fire flaring upward, causing qi and blood stasis in the eyelid. Since it is deficiency fire, the local redness, swelling, and pain are not severe, and the swelling may be soft or hard. Due to qi deficiency, symptoms such as fatigue, lack of strength, anorexia, and shortness of qi occur. Yin deficiency manifests as tidal fever and constipation. The treatment involves tonifying qi and enriching yin, with the formula Expelling the Internal to Drain Pus and Nourishing Yin Decoction.
4. Spleen Qi Deficiency︰The eyelid has slight red swelling with minimal pain, where the lump appears and disappears intermittently, recurring repeatedly and persisting for a long time without healing. Sometimes one eye heals while the other develops the condition, or both eyes experience recurrent episodes simultaneously. Accompanied by symptoms of spleen deficiency such as reduced appetite, poor digestion, and loose stools. This is commonly seen in patients with stomach deficiency, as the eyelid is associated with the spleen. Internal spleen deficiency manifests externally in the eyelid, where residual wind-heat toxins accumulate and linger, leading to recurrent styes that are difficult to cure. Spleen deficiency is also accompanied by symptoms like reduced appetite and loose stools. Treatment involves invigorating the spleen and harmonizing the stomach, reinforcing healthy qi and eliminating pathogenic factors. The recommended prescription is Nourishing and Prosper Pill.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Zhubing Yuanhou Lun．Eye Disease Symptoms: "Sometimes, a person's inner canthus suddenly develops a blister, which within three to five days produces pus. This is commonly known as 'stealing a needle.' It is caused by heat energy lodging in the canthus area, where it combats body fluids to form the blister. If the heat is mild, it results in a small accumulation that discharges pus, and the heat dissipates, leading to recovery."
2. Zhengzhi Zhunsheng．Eye Section: "A boil on the eyelid, commonly called a stye, can occur in one eye or both; sometimes it does not discharge pus and heals on its own; sometimes it is aggravated by exposure to spicy, hot, greasy foods, wind, sand, smoke, or fire, leading to fistula disease and nasal discharge; sometimes, if the orifice is not solid, wind can invade the deficiency, causing swelling of the head and brain, and redness and pain in the eyes. The conditions vary and should be treated accordingly... According to popular belief, when a small blister first appears on the eye canthus, there are fine red spots like sores on the upper back. Pricking these spots with a needle can cure the eyelid, hence the name 'stealing a needle,' which actually relieves the heat accumulation in the taiyang meridian."