Which statement about external hordeolum is true?

Which statement about external hordeolum is true?

• A. It is caused by infection of glands of Zeiss and Moll.
• B. It primarily affects Meibomian glands.
• C. It is always painless.
• D. It is not contagious.

Answer: (A)

External hordeolum is a painful, acute infection of the glands at the eyelid margin, specifically the glands of Zeiss and Moll that surround the lash follicles. This location explains why the statement about infection of these glands is the true one: the lump forms right at the edge of the lid where those glands reside. In contrast, Meibomian glands are deeper inside the eyelid (in the tarsal plate), so infection there causes an internal hordeolum, not an external one. External styes are usually contagious because they involve a bacterial infection—often Staphylococcus aureus—that can spread with direct contact. They are typically painful, not painless, and they can respond to warm compresses, lid hygiene, and topical antibiotics if needed.