Basal cell carcinoma presenting as an irritated eye

Case presentation

Peter was a 54-year-old Irish Australian company director who presented with a six-month history of an irritated left eye with foreign body sensation, intermittent stinging, redness and excess lacrimation. At times there was a build up of mucus secretions and discharge in the eye. During these six months he had visited several GPs and been given artificial tears and two short courses of topical antibiotics, with partial alleviation of symptoms. More recently, an optometrist had noted an aberrant eyelash growing from the lower eyelid that irritated the ocular surface. When this was epilated the patient experienced considerable relief, but his symptoms recurred after three to four weeks.