Eye injury from tarantula.

BACKGROUND: Tarantulas have become increasingly popular pets. Typically, owners are unaware of the potential risk of ocular injury from the barbed urticating (vascular reaction of the skin associated with itching) hairs found on the dorsal aspect of a tarantula's abdomen.

CASE REPORT: A 22-year-old man experienced a red eye with excruciating pain after handling a tarantula. On examination, slitlamp biomicroscopy revealed approximately 30 to 40 barbed tarantula hairs in the conjunctiva, penetrating all layers of the comea. These foreign bodies were causing pain, conjunctival injection, and an anterior chamber reaction. The patient's condition was diagnosed as ophthalmia nodosa and was effectively treated with topical corticosteroids.

RESULTS: Patients who manifest red eye and pain after handling a tarantula should be examined to determine if offending barbed hairs are present in the cornea and conjunctiva. To obtain a correct diagnosis, a detailed case history and careful slit-lamp biomicroscopy must be performed.