Ketumbit (a stye) is a small, painful lump on or inside the eyelid, usually caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland, and it normally goes away within a week. A warm compress for 5 to 10 minutes, 2 to 4 times a day, helps it heal; never try to burst it. Mata merah (red eyes) is most often caused by conjunctivitis or dry eyes, including dry eyes from long hours on phone and computer screens. Most red eyes get better on their own, but get urgent help if your eye is very painful, your vision changes, light hurts your eyes, or you wear contact lenses and have a red eye.
What is ketumbit (a stye)?
According to the NHS, a stye (ketumbit mata) is a small, painful lump on or inside the eyelid or around the eye. Styes are common and are rarely a sign of anything serious, but they can be painful until they heal.
- The skin around the stye may be swollen and red, and the stye may be filled with yellow pus.
- Your eye may be red and watery, but your vision should not be affected.
- A stye usually affects 1 eye, but you can have more than 1 at a time, and on both eyes.
It is probably not a stye if:
- there is no lump: a swollen, red and watery eye or eyelid is more likely to be conjunctivitis or blepharitis (inflamed eyelids);
- the lump is hard but not very painful: this is more likely to be a chalazion.
How do you treat ketumbit at home?
Most styes go away on their own within a week. To reduce swelling and help the stye heal, the NHS recommends:
- Soak a clean flannel in warm water.
- Hold it against your eye for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Repeat this 2 to 4 times a day.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the pain. Do not give aspirin to children under 16.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses and eye make-up until the stye has burst and healed.
- Do not try to burst a stye or pull out an eyelash yourself, as this can spread the infection.
If a stye does not get better, a doctor may burst it with a thin, sterilised needle, remove the eyelash closest to it, or refer you to an eye specialist. Like a boil, a stye is a bacterial infection around a hair follicle; see our guide to bisul for boils elsewhere on the skin.
What causes ketumbit and how can you prevent it?
Styes are often caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland. A popular joke in Malaysia says you get ketumbit from peeking at someone, but that is a myth. According to the NHS, you are more likely to get a stye if you have long-term blepharitis or rosacea.
Do:
- wash your face and remove eye make-up before bed;
- keep your eyelids and eyelashes clean, especially if you have blepharitis;
- wash your hands before putting contact lenses in or taking them out.
Don't:
- share towels or flannels with someone who has a stye;
- rub your eyes if you have not recently washed your hands.
Mata merah: what causes red eyes?
According to the NHS, a red eye is usually nothing to worry about and often gets better on its own. It is often caused by an infection or dry eyes, but there are many possible causes, so do not try to diagnose it yourself:
| What you notice | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| A bright red patch in the white of the eye | A burst blood vessel |
| Gritty or burning feeling, sticky eyes | Conjunctivitis |
| Sore, blurry or watery eyes | Dry eyes |
| Itchy, sore or red crusted eyelids | Blepharitis |
| A feeling that something is in your eye | An ingrowing eyelash |
| A swollen or drooping eyelid, or a lump on the eyelid | Eyelid problems, such as a stye |
If your eye does not hurt, your sight is not affected and you do not feel unwell, it is probably nothing serious and may get better in a few days. Until then, try not to touch or rub your eye and do not wear contact lenses. A pharmacist can advise on cleaning solutions, eye drops or medicines, and whether you need to see a doctor or optician.
Smoke and haze (jerebu) can also make eyes sore and red; see our haze guide for families. Red, watery eyes with a fever, cough and runny nose can be an early sign of measles; see our guide to cacar air and campak.
Conjunctivitis (sore eyes): is it contagious?
Conjunctivitis, often called sore eyes or pink eye in Malaysia, is caused by an infection or allergies. It usually affects both eyes and makes them red, burning or gritty, itchy and watery, and can produce pus that sticks to the eyelashes. It usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment.
- Conjunctivitis that produces sticky pus is contagious, and red, gritty eyes are also usually contagious.
- Conjunctivitis caused by allergies, such as hay fever, makes eyes red and watery but is not contagious. If you also sneeze and have an itchy, runny nose, see our guide to resdung.
How to ease it, according to the NHS:
- wash your eyelids with clean water that has been boiled and cooled, gently wiping the lashes with a clean cotton wool pad (1 piece for each eye);
- hold a cold flannel on your eyes for a few minutes to cool them;
- do not wear contact lenses until your eyes are better;
- ask a pharmacist about eye drops or antihistamines. Children under 2 need a prescription from a doctor.
Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial conjunctivitis, but they do not work if it is caused by a virus or an allergy.
Stop it spreading: wash your hands regularly with warm soapy water, wash pillowcases and face cloths in hot water, do not share towels and pillows, and do not rub your eyes. You do not usually need to stay off work or school unless you feel very unwell.
Mata merah main HP: dry eyes from screens
Many people searching for "mata merah main HP" have dry eyes. According to the NHS, dry eyes can feel itchy, sore, gritty, red or blurry, be sensitive to light, or even be more watery than normal. You are more likely to get dry eyes if you:
- look at computer screens for a long time without a break;
- spend time in air-conditioned rooms;
- wear contact lenses, or are over 50;
- are in windy, dry, dusty or smoky places, or drink alcohol.
What helps:
- take breaks to rest your eyes when watching TV or using a screen;
- keep your computer screen just below eye level;
- clean your eyelids every day with a flannel soaked in warm (not hot) water;
- use a humidifier, and avoid spending too long in air-conditioned rooms;
- if you wear contact lenses, take them out and wear glasses to rest your eyes.
A pharmacist can suggest eye drops, gels or ointments. See an optician or doctor if dry eyes do not improve after a few weeks of home treatment.
When should you see a doctor about your eyes?
See a doctor or optician, according to the NHS, if:
- a stye does not get better within a few weeks;
- conjunctivitis has not cleared up within 7 days;
- your child is under 2 and has a red eye;
- you have red eyes with a sticky discharge, or red patches or eyelid problems for more than a few days.
Get urgent medical advice if:
- a stye is very painful or swollen, affects your vision, or the infection has spread to your eye or eyelid;
- your eye is very painful and red;
- you have a red eye and wear contact lenses, as you could have an eye infection;
- you have eye pain, sensitivity to light, or changes in your vision;
- a baby under 1 month has red, sticky eyes.
Go to the emergency department if you have a red eye with changes to your sight such as flashing or loss of vision, it hurts to look at light, you have a severe headache and feel sick, your eye is very dark red, you have injured your eye or something is stuck in it, a chemical has got into your eye, or one pupil is bigger than the other.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is ketumbit in English?
Ketumbit is the Malay word for a stye: a small, painful lump on or inside the eyelid, often filled with yellow pus. It is usually caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or an eyelid gland. Styes are common and usually go away within a week.
How do I get rid of ketumbit fast?
Hold a clean flannel soaked in warm water against the eye for 5 to 10 minutes, 2 to 4 times a day, to reduce swelling and help the stye heal. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, and avoid contact lenses and eye make-up until it has healed. Do not try to burst it or pull out an eyelash.
Is ketumbit caused by peeking at someone?
No. That is a popular joke in Malaysia, but a stye is caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland. You are more likely to get one if you have long-term blepharitis or rosacea, so keeping your eyelids clean and not rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands helps prevent them.
What causes mata merah (red eyes)?
Red eyes are often caused by an infection such as conjunctivitis or by dry eyes. Other causes include a burst blood vessel, blepharitis, allergies, an ingrowing eyelash and eyelid problems. A red eye that does not hurt and does not affect your sight is usually not serious and often gets better on its own.
Why are my eyes red after using my phone (mata merah main hp)?
Looking at screens for a long time without a break can cause dry eyes, which may feel itchy, sore, gritty or red. Take regular breaks from screens, keep your computer screen just below eye level, and avoid spending too long in air-conditioned rooms. See an optician if dry eyes do not improve after a few weeks.
What is the best ubat sakit mata from the pharmacy?
It depends on the cause. A pharmacist can suggest eye drops or antihistamines for conjunctivitis, and eye drops or gels for dry eyes. Antibiotics only help bacterial conjunctivitis, not viral or allergic conjunctivitis. Children under 2 need a prescription from a doctor for conjunctivitis treatment.
When is a red or painful eye serious?
Get urgent help if your eye is very painful and red, you have changes in your sight, it hurts to look at light, you have a red eye and wear contact lenses, or a baby under 1 month has red, sticky eyes. Go to the emergency department for an eye injury, chemicals in the eye, or a red eye with a severe headache and feeling sick.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor, optician or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
