Phthiriasis palpebrarum - An easily missed diagnosis

Abstract

We report a case of phthiriasis palpebrarum, which was previously misdiagnosed as anterior blepharitis. Several lice and multiple nits were noted on the eyelashes in left eye under slit-lamp examination. The patient was successfully managed by mechanical removal of lice and nits after applying 20% fluorescein dye and subsequent treatment with 0.5% moxifloxacin eye ointment containing soft paraffin as the base.