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.

HISTORY AND SIGNS: 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.

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

CONCLUSION

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.