Tick infestation of the eyelid

PURPOSE

To report the rare occurrence of tick infestation of the eyelid margin.

METHODS

A 58-year-old woman was initially examined with a small yellow lesion of the left upper eyelid margin that appeared after she felt a sting near her eye. Close examination disclosed an insect body attached to the eyelid margin. En bloc excision of the insect with part of the eyelid was performed.

RESULT

Gross examination of the specimen identified the organism as the nymph stage of a bloated tick of the genus Hyalomma but of an uncertain species.

CONCLUSION

Ticks (Hyalomma) can become embedded in the meibomian gland orifice and manifest as a mass at the eyelid margin.

A seed tick infestation of the conjunctiva: Amblyomma americanum larva

Ticks commonly infest humans but rarely bite the eyes. They are vectors of disease; therefore, rapid and complete removal is important. Their attachment can be so secure that removal is difficult or hazardous. We excised a larval form of Amblyomma americanum from a woodsman's conjunctiva.