無睇污糟嘢，點解會生眼挑針？Why would I get a sty?
「藥劑師，我的眼瞼又紅又腫，好似生咗眼挑針呀！同事都笑我因為『睇咗污糟嘢先會生』，喺咪真架？」
“Hi Pharmacist, I think I got a sty as my eyelid is pretty red and swollen. My colleagues thought I must have been watching some dirty stuff. Is that true?”
眼挑針又稱為眼瘡，一般病因為眼瞼油脂腺阻塞。患上眼挑針的具體原因未明，但肯定與「睇咗污糟嘢先會生」無關。患者一般在早期時不會留意到任何症狀，直到朋友告知或照鏡子時才發現眼瞼上的腫塊。病情輕微的腫塊一般會在一段時間後自動消失，而嚴重的情況可能會有細菌併發感染或出現纖維化的組織。
Sty, also called chalazion, it is usually caused by the congestion of the glands along the eyelid. The cause of chalazion is unknown. However, it is nothing related to “watching dirty stuff”. It is usually asymptomatic at the early stage until you are told by friends or look at yourself in the mirror and noticed a lump on the eyelid. The lump will disappear in mild cases but it is possible to cause infection or tissue fibrosis in severe cases.
其實一般針對眼挑針最有效的療法為熱敷。熱敷可以促進血液循環，降低油脂腺內分泌物的黏稠度，從而令到油脂腺重新恢復暢通。熱敷療法的物料可以選擇熱毛巾或煮熟的連殼雞蛋，一天大概三到四次，每次五到十分鐘，堅持一到兩星期後一般都會不藥而癒。除此之外，亦要避免用手搓眼睛，以免把細菌帶進眼睛引致感染。
Normally, the most effective treatment of sty is hot compression. It can increase the blood circulation and decrease the viscosity of the mucus produced from the gland and therefore decongest the gland. You may use hot towel or boiled egg with shell as the hot compression tool for three to four times a day and five to ten minutes each. It normally takes one to two weeks for it to heal by itself. Moreover, it is best to avoid touching your eyes with your hand in order not to increase the risk of bacterial infection.
如果腫塊大到影響視力或引致眼球疼痛，或出現細菌感染的症狀如不停分泌含濃的眼膠，便需要儘快諮詢醫生，以免病情惡化。
If the lump is large enough to affect your visions, causing pain to the eyeball or symptoms of infections such as discharge from the lump, you should consult the doctor immediately.
屈臣氏藥劑師團隊
Watsons Pharmacy Team
