Differential diagnosis and proper aproach for ophthalmomyiasis externa: an experience of 12 patients

Objective. To evaluate the differential diagnosis and therapy of patients who had ophthalmomyiasis externa, which is a self-limiting parasitic disease and is formed as a result of infestation of ocular surface with myiasis flies. Method. A retrospective study. Result. In our series we evaluated 12 patients attending intense eyelid edema and mimicking an acute catarrhal conjunctivitis, with symptoms of burning, stinging, itching, and increase in lacrymation as well as the sense of foreign body moving in the eye. After further biomicroscopic examination 1 - 2 mm size of mobile, black headed transparent larvae were seen. After mechanical removal of larvae from the eye, topical antibiotic and mild steroid drops were sufficient for improvement. Conclusion. We hereby want to emphasize the importance of careful examination and detailed anamnesis even in conjuncitivitis cases.