An intraocular cilium of uncertain origin

Intraocular cilia are a rare complication of penetrat­ ing ocular injury. The eyelash presumably gains access to the inside of the eye by way of passive migration into the vitreous at the time of the injury.! It typically manifests as an immediate or delayed intraocular inflammation at some time following a clear history of penetrating injury. There is a single case report in the literature of an intravitreal cilium without a history of antecedent injury. 2 Other than the possibility of remote unre­ called injury as the source of this eyelash, no other explanation could be reasonably offered. We describe a patient with an intraocular cilium who presented first with symptoms attributed to dacryoad­ enitis, followed by the clinical picture of (epi)scleritis, only to be superseded by moderate vitritis. After further questioning, the patient recalled an accident some 16 years previously that caused a superficial upper eyelid laceration but no injury to the globe. Supporting this latter assertion was the absence of any amblyopia. CASE REPORT