[Keratitis due to caterpillar of Pseudosphinx tetrio hairs]

A case of keratitis due to caterpillar hairs of the Pseudosphinx tetrio is reported. As he was clearing his garden without glasses or a protective headgear, the patient felt left ocular pain due to the projection of a caterpillar into the eye. On examination, there were numerous intrastromal caterpillar hairs involving the inferior temporal quadrant of the cornea. The small size of the hairs prevented removal with forceps. The patient was treated by extensive washing of the eyeball and topical application of anti-inflammatory drugs, cycloplegics and antibiotics. The caterpillar hairs gradually came off the cornea over a two-weeks period. The cornea remained free of any scar. Besides keratitis and conjunctivitis, caterpillar hairs are known to cause iris nodules, chronic uveitis, cataract, hyalitis, chorioretinitis, and orbital cellulitis.