Vision Centre

Testimonials - Eye Emergency - Bush Tick In My Eye

The day started out as normal as any other. I had no idea that at day’s end I would be treated by a leading eye surgeon for a tick.

At around 11:30 AM I drove into the Oasis shopping centre car park in Broadbeach, Queensland. As I was parking my car, I felt something in my eye and rubbed it gently a few times. My right eye felt a bit irritated up in the top left, under the eyelid. I rubbed my eye a few more times until things seemed to settle. In the past, whenever I have had a foreign object in my eye, I have found it helpful to control my thoughts - being calm and collected. If not, it can still feel as if something is in the eye even though the object has gone. At the time, I thought that a small amount of dust or other debris had got into my eye.

I did not think much more of the issue until around 5.10 PM when, having completed some work for a client at my computer, I rubbed my eye. I felt a distinct irritation - not severe, but enough to warrant further investigation. I went to a mirror and looked into my eye. I could see a small black dot up in the top left, where I felt the irritation. I used Optrex eye wash, a supply of which I always keep in the fridge, to cleanse my eye. Part of an insect came out - ugh! On viewing my eye again, I could still see the black dot.

I then enlisted my wife’s help to use a cotton bud to gently attempt removal of the black dot. Remember, at this point I did not know what it was. The black dot did not move. I realised immediately that the black dot was lodged - stuck - in my eye and that I would require expert help to remove it.

I phoned Dr Roger Welch, eye surgeon and principal of the Vision Centre in Southport. Thankfully Dr Welch kindly agreed to see me immediately, even though he had finished for the day. Driving to Southport CBD, I was grateful to know that my eye would soon be examined by an eye surgeon in whom I had immense confidence. My confidence came from knowing Dr Welch personally for some years, and of his dedication to his patients and profession - though I had not yet seen him about any eye related health matters.

After examining my eye, Dr Welch removed the black dot and declared that the object was likely part of a small tick (the head). The identity of the insect was later confirmed by pathology.

I am sure you will agree that having a tick in one’s eye was a horrid experience. Normally, the presence of a tick is not felt because of the chemicals they inject into the host (me in this case!) however, because the tick was up under the eyelid I felt it due to the sensitivity of the area concerned.

During my ordeal, I was able to remain calm (I am a life coach - executive coach - counsellor). Due to this, and being an intuitive man also; I noticed the profound sense of calm confidence around Dr Welch as he attended to my problem. I was acutely aware of a sense of mastery of his craft - there was no hesitation or imprecision - just a calm and masterful removal of the tick. I was of course fully conscious, very much aware of just where the tick was, and could see Dr Welch’s ‘tweezers’ approaching my eye.

A big thank you to Dr Welch.

Alex Webley
Life Coach - Executive Coach - Counsellor
Joy Wizard
Suite 308, 15 Albert Avenue, Broadbeach, Qld 4217
Phone: 0421 27 28 29