External ophthalmomyiasis caused by oestrus ovis larvae

Abstract

A 17 year-old man presented with redness, foreign body sensation, and itching in his right eye for a day after some dust particles fell into his eyes. On slit lamp examination of the right eye, multiple, small, translucent mobile worms; papillary conjunctival congestion; and symblepharon formation at 6’o clock with features of chronic conjunctivitis were seen over both bulbar and fornicial conjunctiva. The worms were picked up under topical anesthesia and sent for the parasitological examination, which reported it to be the larval (Oestrous ovis) of the sheep botfly. The patient was reviewed every day for a week for removal of larvae from the eye along with use of betadine eyedrops and antibiotic steroid combination.