Which of the following best describes enophthalmos?

Enophthalmos refers specifically to the condition where the eyeball is positioned deeper in the orbit than normal, leading to a sunken appearance. This recessed positioning can be due to a variety of factors, such as atrophy of the ocular muscles or surrounding tissues, dehydration, or changes in orbital volume.

Considering this definition, describing enophthalmos as an abnormally recessed eye accurately captures the essence of the condition. It directly indicates that the globe is not protruding or positioned normally, but instead is positioned further back into the bony orbit. This characteristic distinguishes it from other eye-related conditions, such as exophthalmos, where the eye protrudes outward.

Other potential definitions such as protruded eye, abnormal positioning of the globe, or small malformed globe do not convey the specific nature of enophthalmos, which is strictly associated with the recession of the eyeball rather than its position or size in other contexts.