Ophthalmomyiasis caused by sheep nasal botfly [Oestrus ovis]

ABSTRACT

Ophthalmomyiasis is a parasitic eye infection. A young male went on a picnic with his family. After sudden blow of wind, he had a feeling of something struck in the eye, which quickly became swollen with severe itching and lacrimation. A total of 19 larvae in their instar stage were removed with fine forceps under topical anesthesia and slides were prepared for their identification, which came out to be Oestrus ovis belonging to Oestridae family. Recently, cases are being reported from rural and urban areas of Sindh. Doctors in ER [Emergency Room] and ophthalmologists should be aware that whenever next time they see a patient with red eye conjunctivitis, ophthalmomyiasis should always be on their list of differentials