What is the typical examination finding for a hordeolum?

• A. Painless, white dot on the cornea.
• B. Diffuse scleral injection with no focal lesion.
• C. Red, tender bump that may have pus.
• D. Blurred vision with peripheral field loss.

Answer: (C)

A hordeolum is an acute infection of the eyelid glands (usually the glands of Zeis or Moll at the lash margin, or the Meibomian glands). The hallmark exam finding is a red, tender, swollen bump on the eyelid margin that may have pus at the orifice. This localized inflammatory swells with a palpable lump and often a purulent discharge from the lash line.

Other options don’t fit this pattern: a painless white dot on the cornea points to a corneal lesion rather than an eyelid infection; diffuse scleral injection with no focal lesion suggests episcleritis or scleritis; blurred vision with peripheral field loss indicates a posterior segment problem like optic or retinal disease. Hordeolum typically presents with localized eyelid irritation and tenderness and usually does not cause vision loss unless swelling is extensive.