Eye Parasites: 11 Worms Extracted From South Korean Farmer

A 71-year-old crop farmer in South Korea had 11 live worms removed from his eyes after enduring symptoms for two months.

The patient reported a persistent sensation of foreign objects in both eyes, accompanied by redness and blurred vision. Clinical examination revealed multiple mobile, whitish roundworms. The conjunctiva, the transparent membrane covering the white of the eye, displayed enlarged blood vessels. The corneal cells showed signs of erosion, likely resulting from the movement and presence of the parasites.

Ophthalmologists administered a topical anesthetic to numb the eyes before beginning the extraction process. Using fine forceps, the medical team removed the adult worms one by one. The specimens measured between 11 and 22 millimeters in length. Microscopic analysis identified the organisms as Thelazia callipaeda nematodes.

The case report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, noted that several of the extracted female worms were pregnant at the time of removal. The parasites are widespread in Asia and have established populations in parts of Europe. While primarily infesting the eyes of cats and dogs, these nematodes can occasionally enter human eyes through inadvertent contact.

The successful extraction prevented the pregnant worms from releasing living larvae directly into the patient's eyes. The removal procedure concluded with the collection of all 11 adult specimens. The patient's condition is documented in the peer-reviewed case study as a rare instance of human infection by this specific parasitic species.