A case of panuveitis caused by caterpillar setae

Abstract

Introduction

Panuveitis is a serious inflammatory disease. Setae are fibers produced by many insects and plants. Many case reports have described caterpillar and spider fibers entering the eye. These hairs are covered with tiny barbs that help them enter and migrate into the eye tissue, leading to severe inflammation. Normally, they are buried mainly in the conjunctiva and cornea. However, in the present case, they entered the posterior segment of the eye, which is very rare.

Case description

A female patient presented with a complaint of repeated foreign body sensation, redness, pain, and photophobia in the left eye for 9 years following initial exposure to caterpillars. She visited the doctor in January after aggravation of symptoms. Slit-lamp examination, ultrasound biomicroscopy, ultrasound B-scan, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography revealed the presence of a foreign body in the vitreous, which caused discomfort in the patient's left eye and subsequently, panuveitis of the left eye. The symptoms improved significantly after foreign body removal using vitrectomy. Microscopic examination revealed that the foreign body was caterpillar setae.

Conclusion

Clinicians should be more vigilant about history of contact with caterpillars while examining uveitis that has recurred for many years. Identification of the root cause of the disease can ensure better treatment.