External ophthalmomyiasis caused by Muscae fly larva in the Thar Desert

Excerpt

We reported clinical manifestations of ophthalmic myiasis in three patients in Balesar/Shergarh village in Jodhpur district (Thar Desert area) in Rajasthan, India. All three patients belonged to the same regional area. The clinical picture is that of a viral or allergic conjunctivitis with itching of the eye, tearing and foreign body sensation. The larvae can be easily missed on routine examination as they are small, translucent and quickly avoid the slit lamp. External ophthalmomyiasis is deposition of fly larvae confined to conjunctiva, eyelid and lacrimal ducts. Ophthalmomyiasis is not uncommon but underestimated in rural areas, and it is still frequently misdiagnosed as viral or allergic conjunctivitis. In our opinion, this is the first report of ophthalmomyiasis in the Thar Desert. …