How to remove stuck eye worm? Please help!

[Redwillow11]

one of my chicks has what I suspect(ed) is an eyeworm. My chicks are about 4 weeks old. At around 2 weeks old, I would let them poke around in my yard on nice days. At about 3 weeks old, I started putting them in their run during the day but still keeping them in my garage at night. Two days into letting them in the run, I noticed my girl with a red, closed eye. I searched and searched what it could possibly be and google images of eye worm look just like what she has. I was puzzled though because I live in Nebraska and eye worm is typically caused by cockroaches. My best guess is she was eating earthworms as they can also be a vector for it.

I followed advice posted on this forum to treat my flock with Valbuzen. I am isolating my bird with eye worm. I also used 1/2 Valbuzen and 1/2 water to rinse out her eye. I did this 4 days ago- But the dang thing will not come out! It is ferociously attached to her inner eyelid. I don’t see any other worms or eggs, but she gets more and more agitated each night I try and clean it out.

I have watched every YouTube video known to man about how to remove eye worms, to no avail. To rip this thing out would certainly be extremely painful and I don’t want to cause irreversible damage to her eye.

I don’t have saline solution but plan on getting some tomorrow to try and rinse it. The Valbuzen rinse did not seem to change anything. I put some Vaseline at the base of her eye.

Other than a trip to the vet, which I admit is a big bill to stomach, what else can I do for her? Will this thing come out on its own? Will it ever die and release its horrendous grip?!

This is my first time post. I appreciate you reading it, and any advice you have. This forum has already been a huge source of support and help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

I'd try to get some saline and rinse the eye, see if you can get the material out of the eye.

I'm not certain that is an eyeworm.

Tagging in @dawg53 and @Eggcessive

 

[dawg53]

I dont believe it's eyeworm. Eyeworms are thin and no more than 1/4 inch long. Also you would be seeing multiple worms. Here's a detailed description of eyeworm infection symptoms.
And yes, Valbazen will kill them.
https://chickenwhisperermagazine.com/health-and-wellness/do-your-fowl-have-mansons-eyeworm
Also, see post #9 in this link of a video on how to remove pus from an eye:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hache-kinda-what-is-it.1568053/#post-26617463

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like a piece of tissue that is growing from the eye. If it was pus stuck, the rinsing should have gotten it out with a QTip. I would see a vet or try to gently remove it. If it is attached, I would not try hard since it may bleed and injure the chick.