Ophthalmomyiasis Externa: An Underdiagnosed Condition Causing Red Eye

Ophthalmomyiasis externa is a rare cause of red eye, which is often mistaken for conjunctivitis. The objective of this case report is to create awareness about this entity, which is caused by larvae and for which man is an accidental host. Here is a case report of a 45-year-old male patient who presented to the eye OPD in R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, with complaints of redness, watering, foreign body sensation, and photophobia in his left eye. Both eyes were thoroughly examined on a slit lamp. Three larvae were found in the left eye, which were manually removed under topical anaesthesia. The slide was prepared and sent to the laboratory and was found to be larvae of Oestrus ovis. Based on the symptoms and presence of O. ovis larvae, the diagnosis of Ophthalmomyiasis was made. The patient was successfully treated for the same. A follow-up was done on the subsequent day and then after 7 days. The patient got total relief without any ocular or systemic complications on follow-up. This case report depicts the importance of meticulous and thorough eye examination of each and every case, even if it seems trivial at first glance. If left untreated, it can cause vision-threatening complications. Thus, a meticulous examination should be done so that such kind of rare cases should not be missed.