External ophthalmomyiasis by sheep botfly – a report from Sirmaur hills

Abstract

Introduction. Myiasis is caused by larvae of flies infesting animal or human tissues and organs. Aim. In this report we present 2 cases of external ophthalmomyiasis by sheep botfly. Description of the cases. We report a case of two patients who presented with a history of foreign body sensation in the left and the right eye respectively. Slit lamp examination revealed larvae of Oestrus ovis (sheep botfly). In both cases, there was no contact history with sheep or goats. Signs of conjunctival inflammation and corneal involvement were absent in both cases. In most of the previous reports, corneal and conjunctival inflammation was present. Conclusion. Treatment for external ophthalmomyiasis is based on larvae removal and application of topical antibiotics and steroids.