A middle-aged British man was vacationing in Indonesia when a leech latched onto his eyeball. After visiting two hospitals, it took six hours to remove the leech, and he later shared the harrowing experience online.
According to the Bristolpost, the 58-year-old man, Tony Exall, who runs a diving tour company, was exploring diving trips in West Papua, Indonesia, on May 22. While photographing birds in the jungle, he suddenly felt something foreign in his eye. Initially thinking it was sweat or a small insect, his accompanying guide realized something was wrong and discovered a leech on Exall's eyeball, leading to the immediate suspension of their plans.
Exall stated that the leech was firmly attached to the white of his eye, causing it to become bloodshot instantly. Concerned the leech might burrow deeper into his eye, he quickly sought medical help at a local hospital. After being treated at two hospitals, doctors eventually removed the leech under local anesthesia and prescribed antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection, with the entire process taking nearly six hours.
Recalling the treatment, Exall described the experience as his eyeball being tightly pulled, “like someone was tugging at my eyeball.” He also mentioned that when the leech was pulled out, he could distinctly feel the tissue in his eye being torn.
Some netizens were curious, asking “How did the leech get into your eye?” He explained that the forest was hot and humid, and the leech might have attached itself to the back of his hand or his shirt sleeve, leading to it getting into his eye when he was wiping sweat.
Be Careful of Leeches on Your Hands When Wiping Your Face
Dr. Shih-Kuang Lee from the Emergency Medicine Department of the Hsinchu Branch of National Taiwan University Hospital mentioned that leeches usually grow in low-lying valleys or moist grasslands. If you encounter a leech attaching to you during a hike, do not pull it off directly to avoid leaving the leech’s mouthparts in your body, which might cause an ulcer. He suggests using a fingernail or a similar flat tool to pry open the suction disk at the front end of the leech, and then the other end. As the suction disk is pried open, the leech's jaws will also release.
Dr. Lee recommends wearing tight-fitting long pants and mid-calf hiking socks, and applying citronella oil, camphor oil, salt, or other oils like Green Oil or White Flower Oil to prevent leeches from attaching. Additionally, before running your hands through your hair or wiping your face, check if there are any leeches on your hands to prevent them from reaching your head and neck. (News source: Mirror)