A CASE OF EYELID TICK INFESTATION

To highlight the importance of anterior segment protection and the preventive value of wearing protective goggles in sports-related ocular exposure, through a unique case of eyelid tick infestation in a wheelchair athlete.

Ophthalmology Department, Mediclinic Al Jowhara Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

A 15-year-old male wheelchair racer presented with a greyish lesion and mild swelling at the left lower eyelid margin,

following participation in outdoor wheelchair races without eye protection.

A detailed ocular examination, slit-lamp evaluation, and systemic assessment were performed.

The tick was removed under aseptic conditions, and topical antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy were initiated.

CBC and tick-borne disease panels were conducted to exclude systemic involvement.

The tick was successfully extracted,

and the patient achieved full recovery with complete resolution of inflammation within one week.

No systemic complications were detected.

The case emphasized the role of mechanical ocular protection in preventing anterior segment trauma and parasitic exposure during outdoor activities.

Awareness among young athletes and race organizers was found to be low regarding mandatory eye protection.

This case demonstrates that simple preventive measures, such as the use of protective goggles, can significantly reduce ocular risks in outdoor sporting activities.

It underscores the broader concept of anterior segment safety, illustrating that prevention is far more effective than treatment in ocular trauma and parasitic exposure.