Experimental gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) ophthalmia nodosa

Ophthalmia nodosa is the nodular granulomatous inflammatory response of ocular tissue to caterpillar hairs. We experimentally simulated this condition by surgically implanting gypsy moth hairs in the rabbit cornea. We were not, however, able to produce ophthalmia nodosa solely by placing cilia in the rabbit cul-de-sac. The experimentally induced inflammation closely resembled human ophthalmia nodosa in both its clinical and histopathologic features.