The man had spent the last few months in pain with red eyes and blurry vision. After reaching the eye clinic for a checkup, the ophthalmologists took a quick look and analysed the problem. Multiple mobile whitish roundworms were wriggling and thriving inside both his eyes.
Doctors treating a 71-year-old farmer in South Korea were left surprised after discovering 11 parasitic worms in his eyes, including females that were already producing larvae.
The farmer’s condition instantly improved after the worms were removed. Despite the unusual case, he did not need any anti-parasitic medication Doctors monitored the patient for two months afterward and found no sign of recurrence. These worms are widespread across Asia and found in parts of Europe. They infest the eyes of cats and dogs but can also make their way into human eyes in certain cases.
According to the case study documented by doctors at Kangwon National University Hospital and published in The New England Journal of Medicine on October 24, the farmer had approached the hospital, seeking cataract surgery.
The doctors documenting the case said it may help physicians consider the possibility of parasitic infection when treating patients with prolonged foreign-body sensation or redness of unknown cause.
