Matthew McConaughey shared a photo of the aftermath of a bee sting on social media recently. The selfie shows McConaughey’s right eye completely swollen shut along with the caption “bee swell.” Given how severe the reaction was, fans were worried that he suffered damage to his eye and feared for his health. Fortunately, the sting wasn’t that serious.
What happened to Matthew McConaughey’s eye?
Matthew McConaughey was stung on his face by a bee, which resulted in his eye swelling shut. Unfortunately, he didn’t go into more detail about the incident. However, given his smile in the photo he shared, it’s doubtful that the issue is too severe.
Bee stings can cause discomfort, such as swelling, but are rarely life-threatening unless a person is stung multiple times or is allergic to bee stings. Though McConaughey’s eye looks terrible in the photo, it’s not an unusual reaction to being stung in the face.
If you’re stung by a bee, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the reaction (via Mayo Clinic):
- Remove the stinger as soon as possible.
- Wash the affected area with soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen.
- If the sting is on a limb, elevate it.
- If the site itches, apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion.
- Alternatively, an oral antihistamine like Benadryl can help reduce itching and swelling.
Luckily, McConaughey’s reaction wasn’t severe, but bee stings can be fatal. If you are stung multiple times, find you’re having trouble breathing, or are allergic to bees, you should immediately seek medical attention. If you’re prescribed an emergency epinephrine autoinjector for a bee sting allergy, keep it handy at all times, and make sure you’re wearing an alert bracelet to let people know you’re allergic to bee stings if you’re incapacitated.
McConaughey’s fans are relieved to see his positive attitude and hope for a quick recovery. It’s a reminder to stay cautious around bees.
