Christmas eye

Christmas Eye (also known as seasonal corneal ulcer, Albury-Wodonga syndrome, harvester's eye, or harvester's keratitis) refers to a poorly understood seasonal epidemic of corneal ulceration which predominantly occurs only within a particular region of Australia.[1] [2][3][4][5][6]

Pathogenesis

Circumstantial evidence suggests that beetles in the genus Paederus (Staphylinidae) and other beetles in the genus Orthoperus (Corylophidae) release chemicals, including pederin, that cause painful, but temporary, eye lesions when the beetles accidentally fly into a person's eye. They can also cause severe dermatitis and the so-called 'whiplash' stripe across the skin.[7][8][9]

Diagnosis

Christmas Eye typically presents with a unilateral, irregular desquamation of the cornea with a well demarcated border. The defect stains brightly with fluorescein. In the very early stages the desquamation may be patchy before progressing to involve up to 80% of the corneal surface.

Treatment

Christmas Eye appears to respond empirically to topical indomethacin[1] or ketorolac.

Epidemiology

Early research suggests that individuals located within south-west New South Wales and north-east Victoria during the summer period are more frequently affected than elsewhere in Australia.[10] Patients often describe being near a body of water the previous evening and the first cases usually occur when the daytime temperature approaches 30C - typically late November.

See also

References
  1. Howsam, Geoffrey (1 May 1995). "The Albury-Wodonga syndrome: A tale of two cities". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology. 23 (2): 135–138. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.1995.tb00142.x.
  2. Walker, Thomas D. (1974). "A Seasonal Corneal Ulcer". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology. 2 (2): 64–67. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.1974.tb00198.x.
  3. BRUTON, JODIE (23 December 2015). "Christmas Eye reports swell in 2015". Bordermail.com. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  4. "Christmas Eye". Abc.net.au. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  5. CRAM, MATT (9 November 2011). "Christmas Eye 'as painful as childbirth'". Bordermail.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  6. Langshaw, Julianne (18 December 2012). "Seeing red at Christmas". Gippslandtimes.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  7. Farrow, Roger (1 May 2016). Insects of South-Eastern Australia: An Ecological and Behavioural Guide. Csiro Publishing. ISBN 9781486304752. Retrieved 9 July 2018 – via Google Books.
  8. Mullen, Gary R.; Durden, Lance A. (22 April 2009). Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Academic Press. ISBN 9780080919690. Retrieved 9 July 2018 – via Google Books.
  9. Frank, J. H.; Kanamitsu, K. (1 March 1987). "Paederus, Sensu Lato (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae): Natural History and Medical Importance". Journal of Medical Entomology. 24 (2): 155–191. doi:10.1093/jmedent/24.2.155. Retrieved 9 July 2018 – via jme.oxfordjournals.org.
  10. "15th Rural Critical Care Conference - 21-22 August 2015, Armidale Services Club, Armidale, NSW - 404-Page Not Found" (PDF). Ruralcriticalcare.asn.au. Retrieved 9 July 2018.


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