Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

CASE REPORT
Year
: 1985  |  Volume : 33  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 67--68

Bilateral ectopic cilia


SC Jain, VK Saini 
 S.S. Medical College, Rewa., India

Correspondence Address:
S C Jain
Deptt. of Ophthalmology. S.S. Medical College, Rewa, (M.P.)
India




How to cite this article:
Jain S C, Saini V K. Bilateral ectopic cilia.Indian J Ophthalmol 1985;33:67-68


How to cite this URL:
Jain S C, Saini V K. Bilateral ectopic cilia. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1985 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];33:67-68
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1985/33/1/67/27339


Full Text

Ectopic cilia are a very rare anomaly of the lashes[1]. Wiegmann[2] has reported a case where a well formed eyelash grew from the middle of the conjunctival surface of the tarsus. Tavolara[3] recorded a case in which two lashes originating in the tarsus grew in the conjunctival sac.

 CASE REPORT



A ten year old boy presented with the complaint of mild itching and redness of both eyes for one month.

On ocular examination, mild evidence of bulbar type of vernal conjunctivitis was found at the lower limbus in both eyes. On everting the upper lid of the right eye for excluding any evidence of palpebral variety of vernal lesion, an eyelash was noticed buried deeply but shining well through the conjunctiva just medial to the outer third of the lid. On eversion of the left upper lid an eye lash was noticed buried deep shining through the conjunctiva at the junction of the outer third and the middle third of the lid. Eyelashes were found to be stretched in both the eyes. No other abnormality was noticed in both the eyes.

The eyelashes from both the eyes were removed under local anaesthesia after applying the chalazion clamp.. An incision was made directly over the eyelash and the intact cilia were picked out with the fine forceps from both the eyes. The cilium was more deeply embedded on the conjunctival surface of the tarsus in left eye. Hydrocortisone eye ointment twice daily was prescribed for one month for vernal conjunctivitis in both the eyes.

 DISCUSSION



Ectopic cilia, a disturbance of position of eyelashes is a very rare condition. Moreover the patients having this anomaly do not report to the ophthalmologists because the condition is completely asymptomatic especially if the cilia are burried under the conjunctiva. In the present case it was accidentally noticed in both the eyes while excluding the palpebral variety of the vernal conjunctivitis. The cilium in the left eye was shining less as it was more deeply embedded under the conjunctiva) surface of the tarsus. Duke Elder[1] has described a case of ectopic cilia showing a cluster of lashes growing outward from the skin of the upper lid. Tavolara[3] found it originating in the tarsus and growing under the conjunctiva, in association with dis�tichiasis. The present case had no other anomaly as also reported by Weigmann[2].

 SUMMARY



Ectopic cilia are a very rare congenital anomaly of the eye lashes. A bilateral case of ectopic cilia growing from the conjunctival surface of the tarsus without any symptoms is reported.

References

1Duke Elder, S., 1964, System of Ophthalmology, Vol. III. Part 2. p. 876.
2Weigmann, 1936, Klin. Mbl. Augerheilk,, 96: 230.
3Tavolara, 1959, Boll. Oculisi. 38: 194.