An internal hordeolum is a secondary infection of meibomian glands in the tarsal plate. Both types can arise as a secondary complication of blepharitis. Untreated, the disease may spontaneously resolve or it may progress to chronic granulation with formation of a painless mass known as a chalazion. Chalazia can be quite large and can cause visual disturbance by deforming the cornea. Generalized cellulitis of the eyelid may occur if an internal hordeolum is untreated.
Most morbidity is secondary to improper drainage.
Proper technique and drainage precautions are described in Treatment . No sexual predilection exists. Patients usually complain of a localized painful swelling on one eyelid. In some cases, the complaint may start as a generalized edema and erythema of the lid that later becomes localized. A history of similar problems is common.