What are the differences between a stye and conjunctivitis?

　　The differences between hordeolum and conjunctivitis include variations in the site of onset, causes, symptom presentation, clinical signs, and treatment focus. Although both are eye inflammations, they differ significantly in lesion location and pathogenesis, requiring targeted management. If severe eye pain, vision loss, or spreading inflammation occurs, prompt medical attention is recommended.

　　1. Different sites of onset: Hordeolum affects the glands of the eyelid, including the meibomian glands and glands around the hair follicles of the eyelashes, with lesions localized to the eyelid; conjunctivitis occurs in the conjunctival tissue covering the white part of the eye and inner eyelid surface, affecting the mucous membrane layer on the eyeball's surface.

　　2. Different causes: Hordeolum is usually caused by bacterial infections such as *Staphylococcus aureus*, and is classified as an acute suppurative inflammation; conjunctivitis can result from various factors including bacteria, viruses, and allergies, with both infectious and non-infectious types being common.

　　3. Different symptoms: The main symptoms of hordeolum include localized redness, swelling, and pain in the eyelid, with a palpable hard nodule that may later develop into a pus point; the core symptoms of conjunctivitis are conjunctival hyperemia and increased secretions, often accompanied by foreign body sensation and itching, while pain is generally mild.

　　4. Different clinical signs: Hordeolum presents with localized eyelid swelling and obvious tenderness, and may rupture with pus discharge after abscess formation; conjunctivitis shows redness of the white of the eye, conjunctival edema, and secretions that vary in nature—purulent, watery, or mucoid—depending on the underlying cause.

　　5. Different treatment focuses: Treatment of hordeolum emphasizes anti-infection measures and promoting pus drainage, commonly using antibiotic eye drops or ointments combined with warm compresses; conjunctivitis requires identifying the cause first—antibiotics for bacterial infections, antiviral medications for viral cases, and antiallergy treatments for allergic forms.

　　Maintain clean and dry eyes, avoid sharing towels or basins to prevent cross-infection; refrain from rubbing the eyes to reduce irritation; follow medical instructions for medication without stopping prematurely, and minimize prolonged eye use to facilitate rapid resolution of inflammation.