Farmers had 11 live worms removed from eyes

A medical team in South Korea reported the removal of 11 live parasitic worms from the eyes of a local crop farmer.

The patient, a 71-year-old man, presented at an eye clinic after experiencing a persistent sensation of foreign bodies in both eyes for two months. His symptoms included redness and blurred vision. Upon examination, ophthalmologists identified multiple mobile, whitish roundworms within the conjunctiva. They also observed enlarged blood vessels and erosion of the corneal cells, conditions linked to the presence of the parasites.

The medical staff administered a topical numbing agent before proceeding with the extraction. Using fine forceps, they removed each worm individually. The team collected 11 adult specimens, which measured between 11 and 22 millimeters in length. Microscopic analysis confirmed the parasites were Thelazia callipaeda nematodes. These organisms are common in Asia and have established populations in parts of Europe, typically infesting the eyes of dogs and cats before occasionally transferring to humans.

A case report published in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that several of the female worms were pregnant at the time of removal. The timing of the extraction prevented the worms from releasing their living larvae directly into the patient's eyes. The report documented the clinical progression and the successful elimination of the infestation without further surgical intervention.