Sarcoptes is a genus of skin parasites and part of the larger family of mites collectively known as scab mites. These organisms have eight legs as adults, and are placed in the same phylogenetic class (Arachnida) as spiders and ticks.S. scabiei mites are under 0.5 mm in size, but are sometimes visible as pinpoints of white. Gravid females tunnel into the dead, outermost layer (stratum corneum) of a hosts skin and deposit eggs in the shallow burrows. The eggs hatch into larvae in three to ten days. These young mites move about on the skin and molt into a "nymphal" stage, before maturing as adults, which live three to four weeks in the hosts skin. Males roam on top of the skin, occasionally burrowing into the skin. In general, the total number of adult mites infesting a healthy hygienic person with noncrusted scabies is small, about 11 females in burrows, on average.The movement of mites within and on the skin produces an intense itch, which has the characteristics of a delayed cell-mediated inflammatory response to allergens. IgE antibodies are present in the serum and the site of infection, which react to multiple protein allergens in the body of the mite. Some of these cross-react to allergens from house dust mites.
Exposure keratopathy (also known as exposure keratitis) is medical condition affecting the cornea of eyes. It can lead to corneal ulceration and permanent loss of vision due to corneal opacity. Normally, corneal surface is kept moist by blinking. during sleep, it is covered by lids. Increased corneal exposure to the air due to incomplete or inadequate eyelid closure cause increased evaporation of tear from corneal surface. Increased evaporation of tear cause instability of the tear film  and dryness of corneal surface. This will lead to corneal epithelial damage. Both tear film and corneal epithelium play significant role in corneal protective mechanism. The dryness and epithelial damage will allow micro organism to penetrate cornea and thus keratitis occurs. Signs and symptoms
Symptoms are similar to dry eye. Patients may complain redness, irritation, ocular discomfort, burning, and foreign body sensation. Punctate epithelial defects, epithelial break down and stromal melting may be seen in corneal examination. Corneal ulceration may develop due to bacterial invasion. Complications
Main complication of exposure keratopathy is permanent vision loss due to corneal opacification. Stromal melting may occasionally lead to corneal perforation. Causes
Exposure keratopathy may occur due to mechanical eyelid abnormalities or neuro-paralytic corneal anesthesia. It may occur secondary to ocular surgeries like blepharoplasty, ptosis surgery etc. also. Lagophthalmos
Lagophthalmos, the inability to close the eyelids completely is the main cause of exposure keratopathy. Common cause of lagophthalmos is facial nerve (CN VII) palsy. Facial nerve function may affect in several conditions like cerebrovascular accident, head trauma, brain tumors, Bells palsy etc.