What is the eye mite called? - briefly
The microscopic mite that inhabits human eyelashes is called Demodex folliculorum. A related species, Demodex brevis, also occurs in the eye’s sebaceous glands.
What is the eye mite called? - in detail
The mite that lives on human eyelashes and eyelid glands is identified scientifically as Demodex folliculorum (commonly referred to as the eyelash mite) and, less frequently, Demodex brevis (the meibomian gland mite). Both belong to the order Trombidiformes within the class Arachnida.
Taxonomic classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Trombidiformes
- Family: Demodicidae
- Genus: Demodex
- Species: D. folliculorum, D. brevis
Morphology
- Length: 0.2–0.4 mm for D. folliculorum, 0.1–0.2 mm for D. brevis
- Body: elongated, cigar‑shaped, transparent, divided into gnathosoma (mouth region) and idiosoma (body)
- Legs: four pairs, each ending in claw‑like structures for attachment to hair follicles or gland ducts
Life cycle
- Egg laid within a hair follicle or gland duct (≈2 days).
- Six larval stages (larva, protonymph, nymph) develop over 2–3 weeks, each stage feeding on sebum, epithelial cells, and microorganisms.
- Adult emerges, remains in the same follicle or migrates to adjacent sites, reproducing continuously throughout the host’s life.
Habitat on the human host
- Predominantly colonizes eyelashes, eyebrows, and facial skin.
- D. folliculorum occupies the hair shaft and follicular opening; D. brevis resides deeper in the meibomian glands of the eyelid margin.
- Population density increases with age; most adults host dozens to hundreds of individuals per square centimeter.
Clinical relevance
- Overpopulation may cause blepharitis, rosacea‑like facial eruptions, ocular irritation, and dry‑eye symptoms.
- Mechanical blockage of meibomian glands leads to altered lipid secretion and tear film instability.
- Inflammation results from mite antigens and secondary bacterial overgrowth.
Diagnostic techniques
- Slit‑lamp examination with fluorescein staining reveals cylindrical dandruff at the lash base, a hallmark of heavy infestation.
- Epilation of lashes followed by microscopic analysis confirms mite presence and species identification.
- Skin surface biopsies (Standardized Skin Surface Biopsy) quantify density per cm².
Management strategies
- Topical acaricides: tea‑tree oil (5 % formulation), ivermectin 1 % cream, metronidazole gel.
- Oral ivermectin (200 µg/kg) for severe cases.
- Eyelid hygiene: warm compresses, lid scrubs with diluted baby shampoo or commercially available lid‑cleansing solutions.
- Antimicrobial adjuncts: doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 4–6 weeks to reduce associated bacterial load and inflammation.
Effective control requires regular lid hygiene combined with targeted acaricidal therapy, tailored to infestation severity and patient tolerance.