title: Morgellons Disease Presenting As an Eyelid Lesion.
abstract: Morgellons disease is characterized by complaints of uncomfortable skin sensations and fibers emanating from nonhealing skin lesions. Morgellons disease is well-known in the dermatology and psychiatry literature, where it is typically considered a subtype of delusional parasitosis, but it has not yet been described in the ophthalmology literature. A patient with self-reported Morgellons disease is presented, who was referred for evaluation of left lower eyelid ectropion. She reported that her skin was infested with fibers that were "trying to get down into the eyelid." On examination, she had ectropion of the left lower eyelid, broken cilia, and an ulcerated left upper eyelid lesion concerning for carcinoma. Biopsy of the lesion was consistent with excoriation. Treatment of her ectropion was deferred out of concern for wound dehiscence, given the patient's aggressive excoriation behavior. This case is presented to make the ophthalmologist aware of this disorder and to highlight the appropriate clinical management.
authors.affiliation: *Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.; and *†Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Rasanamar K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004483:Ectropion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015822:Eye Infections, Parasitic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005143:Eyelids / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055535:Morgellons Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis