UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Some recent literature (see for example [1]) has motivated me to seek alternatives to warm compresses for my regularly appearing styes/chalzions (three in the past year). I'm worried that warm compresses may be aiding the keratoconus, as the article in [1] implicitly suggests. Indeed, the quality of vision in the one eye with mild keratoconus seems to be degrading faster now.

I have no idea what procedure I could substitute the compresses with other than letting the styes reach their end naturally or have them surgically removed. If heat indeed deforms the cornea, then warm compresses should be avoided. The first stye I ever experienced was removed surgically, last year. The one I have now will likely be too; it's been there two months already.

I would be grateful for any advice from people here suffering from styes/chalazions and keratoconus. Unfortunately, the optometrist I see has nothing more for me other than what I wrote above and the wait time to see an ophthamologist or a specialist is almost a year!

(it might be helpful to know that I am a moderate to heavy computer user. I use an lcd monitor with flux installed--I'm not sure that's relevant to this discussion, but I'll mention it anyway. I wear glasses.)

Thank you

References
[1] The role of heat in rubbing and massage-related corneal deformation Charles W. McMonniesa, Donald R. Korbb, c, Caroline A. Blackieb, et al.

I occasionally get styes, and find it easier to avoid them than to live with them when they arrive. My strategies include eye lid bathing, drenching my eyes with artificial tears (to inhibit the urge to rub) and being OCD about hygiene.

Every good wish.

I'm not sure about the specifics of using warm compresses really. One thing that stopped me getting as many styes was hearing that Staphylococcus from your nose could cause more. So though I get a runny nose a fair bit (deviated septum) I really don't "re-use" the same tissue and that has cut it down a fair bit. As well as the strict hand washing putting contacts in, but with the inevitable finger to lid contact (not rubbing the cornea though obviously) it seems to cut it down.