South Korean farmer had 11 parasitic worms extracted from his eyes before they could release larvae
Doctors removed living Thelazia callipaeda nematodes from a 71-year-old man's eyes after two months of discomfort, finding many of the female worms pregnant at the time of extraction.
What happened
A 71-year-old crop farmer in South Korea visited an eye clinic after two months of experiencing a foreign-body sensation and redness in both eyes. Ophthalmologists identified multiple mobile whitish roundworms and extracted 11 adult Thelazia callipaeda nematodes using fine forceps under topical anesthesia, with the worms ranging from 11 to 22 mm in length. Many of the female worms were pregnant at the time of removal, meaning the man narrowly avoided having larvae released directly into his eyes. The infestation had already caused visible damage: enlarged blood vessels in the conjunctiva and erosion of the corneal cells.
Context
Thelazia callipaeda is a parasitic nematode widespread across Asia with established populations in parts of Europe. These worms primarily infest the eyes of cats and dogs but can inadvertently infect humans. The timing of the removal before larval release was significant because it prevented potential additional complications from live larvae colonizing the eye tissue.