Ophthalmia nodosa caused by tarantula hairs

Abstract

A young woman presented with ocular discomfort after handling her pet tarantula. Multiple fine hairs were detected on the eyelids, in the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, and in the corneal epithelium and stroma. In addition, foreign body granulomas were found in the conjunctiva. Six months later, peripheral chorioretinal lesions were seen. The clinical and histologic findings in this case closely resemble the findings in ophthalmia nodosa caused by caterpillar hairs.