Can eyelashes migrate?
BACKGROUND
Intraocular cilia after penetrating injuries or surgery causing acute or subclinical inflammation are a well-known problem. In a healthy young patient with acute intraocular inflammation but no history of trauma the diagnosis may be missed initially.


METHODS
A young farmer presented with severe eye pain, scleritis and a circumscribed chorioretinal and vitreous infiltrate. There was no history or evidence of eye trauma or systemic disease.


RESULTS
Staphylococci were identified from vitreous material. During vitreous surgery an intraretinal cilium was found and removed. After intravitreal antibiotic treatment, the vision completely recovered.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute intraocular inflammation should alert the ophthalmologist to consider an intraocular foreign body as a possible cause even if there is no history of trauma.
Wirth
M G
MG
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. gabriela.wirth@usz.ch
Helbig
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002833:Choroiditis / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005140:Eyelashes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012160:Retina; D015423:Scleritis / Q000209:etiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014821:Vitrectomy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents