Photo contest

University of Seville · Seville, Spain

In the green hush of light, the eye becomes a hidden world - fragile, luminous and full of untold tides.

Instituto de Oftalmologia FAP Conde de Valenciana, IAP · Mexico, Mexico

This image reveals the vortex-like organization of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus, a dynamic network essential for sensation, tear regulation, and epithelial integrity. In dry eye disease, disruption of thisdelicate architecture reflects impaired sensory feedback, tear film instability, and ocular surface damage.

Department of ophtalmology, arnas civico hospital · Palermo, Italy — Team: Gregorio Lo Giudice & Claudio Brancato

A 30 year old woman presented to the emergency eye department at night with acute burning and foreign bidy sensation. Slit-lamp examination revealed a dead red ant firmly attached to the medial canthus. While the body was removed with forceps, the head remained achored to the conjunctival tissue, requiring delicate dissection with a 15° blade. This unusual case highlights how even a tiny intruder can cause significant ocular discomfort and pose unexpected removal challenges.

Istanbul Medipol University · Istanbul, Turkish

Beyond the naked eye lies a hidden world on the ocular surface. This high-definition micrograph captures a "family" of Glowing Guests—a colony of Demodex folliculorum mites—anchored to a human eyelash. Using a novel application of Calcofluor White staining, which electively binds to chitin, UV light transforms these microscopic hitchhikers into a vivid, ethereal landscape. The bright blue-white fluorescence reveals the intricate morphological details of the mites and their microenvironment, beautifully bridging the gap between clinical pathology and scientific art. Technical Details: Specimen: Human eyelash with Demodex colony Staining: Calcofluor White Microscopy: UV Fluorescence Microscopy