Ophthalmologists pluck 11 pregnant worms from 71-year-old farmer's eyes

A 71-year-old crop farmer in South Korea avoided a potential explosion of living larvae when doctors removed 11 live worms from his eyes. The patient had endured two months of redness, blurriness, and the persistent feeling that something was stuck in both eyes. He finally sought care at an ophthalmology clinic after the symptoms worsened.

Upon examination, specialists identified multiple mobile, whitish roundworms inside his eyes. The infection had caused visible damage to his conjunctiva, the membrane covering the eye, where blood vessels had enlarged. The cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye, also showed signs of erosion likely caused by the presence of the parasites.

The medical team applied a topical numbing agent to the patient's eyes before beginning the extraction process. Using fine forceps, they carefully removed the worms one by one. The collected parasites measured between 11 and 22 millimeters in length. At the time of removal, many of the female worms were already pregnant.

A case report published in the New England Journal of Medicine identified the parasites as Thelazia callipaeda nematodes. These worms are common in Asia and have established populations in parts of Europe. They typically infest the eyes of cats and dogs but can occasionally infect humans.

The patient is expected to recover from the procedure. The case report documents the successful removal of the adults before they could release their offspring into the ocular cavity.