I just want to write this thread to make everyone aware of the dangers of the bristles. I have no reaction whatsoever when they get on my skin and I think that is what got my complacent.

Friday evening I was working in my Lasiodora parahybana's enclosure. I saw her flick a couple of times but paid little attention to it as it never affects me. But then I made a big mistake- I didn't wash my hands afterwards....After about half an hour my left eye started itching like mad. I obviously got some bristles in my eye!

I thought it would clear up through the night but Saturday morning I woke up with a swollen red eye that was driving me insane with the itch! I went to see an ophthalmologist and he was able to scrape some of the bristles out. Three of them was however lodged in my cornea. He gave me drops to assist my cornea in pushing them out,but if that doesn't work I am going to have to have them surgically removed on Wednesday.

It is now Sunday late afternoon and I still have a constant itch in my eye and I'm not allowed to scratch!! :eyepoke:

So I hope that this can serve as a warning to others. Don't become complacent when working with your 8-legged wonders-rather be safe!!

Sorry to hear about your predicament.

I am allergic to bristles, my L P gives me a bad skin rash. So I wear long sleeves and latex gloves when I move him or clean the cage. He is was my first T, and made me an old word man.

Best of luck with your eye. Really hope it gets better soon and that surgery is not needed

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Thanks for sharing and hope your eye comes right.
If I'm not mistaken Hendrik also got hairs in he's eye.

I have some precautions/rules when working with tarantulas that flick hairs.
I have a pair of safety glasses that I use when working with spiders that flick.
I also use a spray bottle, and spray a mist in the air once a spider has flicked.
I also mist and wash my hands directly after working with my spiders.
I avoid touching any part of my body during or after working with my spiders, until I have washed my hands.


But, even with all my precautions I still get every now and then urticating hairs on my face, mostly under my nose..

Happened to me before as well, drove me insane. So now I pick moults up with tweezers, have started rubbing my eyes with my arms, even when not working with the little 8-legged shits.

Don't be complacent, get yourself a nice pair of goggles, a face mask and some damn good tweezers/latex gloves

Just a quick update...Last night there wasn't any symptoms so I decided to skip the 02:00 eye drops as I started working again today. This morning I woke up with my left eye itching,watering and blurring way more than before...I don't think this bodes well for my cornea pushing them out by itself....

Is there any tips or "boereraad" to help with the itching? I am really going mad-it feels like sand constantly scratching my eye.

Only do wat the doc told you. You don't want to mess with your eye when you have bristles in your cornea. Rather phone the doc to hear what he has to say.

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