How does a tick look on the eyelid? - briefly
A tick attached to the eyelid appears as a tiny, dark, oval-shaped parasite, often resembling a small black or brown dot that may swell and become more reddish‑brown as it feeds. The surrounding skin may show slight irritation or a faint halo of redness.
How does a tick look on the eyelid? - in detail
A tick attached to the eyelid presents as a small, rounded or oval body, typically 2–5 mm in length before engorgement. The dorsal surface is smooth, leathery, and brown to reddish‑brown, often resembling a tiny, flattened seed. As it feeds, the abdomen expands, becoming noticeably larger, paler, and more globular, sometimes reaching 8–10 mm. The ventral side, visible only when the tick is lifted, shows the mouthparts: a pair of chelicerae for cutting skin and a barbed hypostome that anchors the parasite into tissue.
The attachment site appears as a pinpoint puncture surrounded by a faint, erythematous halo. The surrounding skin may be slightly swollen, with a thin, translucent crust forming over the tick’s shield (scutum). In some cases, a small amount of serous fluid or blood stains the surrounding area, giving a wet or sticky appearance.
Key visual cues for identification include:
- Size change: rapid enlargement of the body after attachment.
- Color shift: from dark brown to gray‑white as the tick fills with blood.
- Mouthparts: visible as a tiny, curved projection at the anterior edge.
- Scutum: a hard, plate‑like structure covering part of the dorsal surface, often darker than the rest of the body.
- Attachment point: a central, tiny puncture with a surrounding halo of irritation.
Differentiation from other eyelid lesions:
- Stye or chalazion: solid, painless lump without a visible external organism.
- Papule or cyst: smooth, non‑mobile, lacking a puncture site and mouthparts.
- Mite infestation: much smaller (less than 1 mm) and often multiple.
Recognition of these characteristics enables prompt removal and reduces the risk of secondary infection or transmission of tick‑borne pathogens.