Hordeolum Follow-up

Updated: Feb 12, 2021
  • Author: Michael P Ehrenhaus, MD; Chief Editor: Edsel B Ing, MD, PhD, MBA, MEd, MPH, MA, FRCSC  more...
  • Print
Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

Patients should be followed within 2-4 weeks of institution of medical therapy to assess response to therapy and need for surgical incision and curettage.

Next:

Deterrence/Prevention

Try to prevent recurrences by minimizing or eliminating risk factors, such as blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction, through daily lid hygiene and warm compresses.

Previous
Next:

Complications

Large lesions of the upper eyelid have been reported to cause decreased vision secondary to induced astigmatism or hyperopia resulting from central corneal flattening.

Granulation tissue may sometimes occur after the hordeolum resolves.

Previous
Next:

Prognosis

Hordeola are usually self-limited and spontaneously resolve within 1-2 weeks. The resolution is hastened with the use of warm compresses and lid hygiene.

Internal hordeola may occasionally evolve into chalazia, which may require topical or intralesional steroids or even incision and curettage. [13]

Previous
Next:

Patient Education

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicineHealth's Eye and Vision Center. Also, see eMedicineHealth's patient education articles Chalazion (Lump in Eyelid) and Sty.

Previous