Correspondence Address:
Dr. Kirthi Koka
Orbit, Oculoplasty, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Services, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, 18, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
India

Full Text



A 57-year-old female from rural India complained of diminution of vision in the right eye for 6 months. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/60 in the right eye due to immature cataract. Slit lamp biomicroscopy incidentally revealed a tick with its mouth parts (chelicerae) embedded in the lid margin at the medial and lateral two-third junction with surrounding hemorrhage [Figure 1]a. The tick was completely removed with forceps and sent for examination. It was identified as an ixodidae (hard tick) family of Rhipicephalus species [Figure 1]b. The patient was prescribed systemic antiallergics and topical antibiotic eye ointment and asked to review if she developed fever, headache, myalgia, or rashes.{Figure 1}

Although dogs are the main host, ticks can affect humans and are second to mosquitoes as vectors of human disease such as tularemia and Lyme disease.[1],[2] Mechanical removal of ticks is a safe and effective method of preventing tick-associated systemic and local complications.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References