Man finds live tick lodged in his eye after mistaking it for dirt

Avery Yanak discovered a tick in his eye on 26 May. He initially mistook it for a piece of dirt. The unusual incident has since changed his family’s habits. Yanak first noticed the tick while using his phone camera. He realised it was not embedded in his eye. Unsure what to do, he went to the emergency room.

At the hospital, doctors used tweezers and numbing drops to remove it. They also prescribed antibiotics to prevent tickborne diseases. Dr Deval Paranjpe, chair of Allegheny Health Network ophthalmology, later described the tick’s location as rare but possible.

The cause of how the tick reached Yanak’s eye remains unknown. Since the incident, his family now performs nightly tick checks. Yanak has also advised others to inspect their entire body, including the eyes, after spending time outdoors. Dr Paranjpe recommends visiting the emergency room immediately if a tick is found in the eye. Yanak’s experience has led to increased vigilance in his household. The case highlights the importance of thorough checks after outdoor activities.