71-Year-Old Farmer Has 11 Pregnant Worms Removed From Eyes

Eleven living, wriggling worms were pulled from the eyes of a 71-year-old South Korean man. The parasites, which ranged from 11 to 22 millimeters in length, were removed at an eye clinic where doctors found many of the female worms to be pregnant. The extraction occurred just before the females laid their loads of living larvae directly into the man's eyes.

The farmer reported a two-month history of discomfort, describing the sensation of having something stuck in both eyes. His vision had become blurry, and his eyes were red. Upon examination, ophthalmologists observed multiple mobile, whitish roundworms. The conjunctiva, the membrane covering the eye, showed enlarged blood vessels, while the corneal cells had eroded, likely due to the movement and activity of the parasites.

The medical team administered a topical treatment to numb the patient's eyes. Using fine forceps, the doctors extracted the worms one by one. The case details were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Microscopic analysis identified the parasites as Thelazia callipaeda nematodes.

These specific helminths are widespread across Asia and have also established populations in parts of Europe. They primarily infest the eyes of cats and dogs but can occasionally transfer to humans. The 71-year-old crop farmer had not noted any direct contact with infected animals prior to his visit, though the transmission route for human cases is often indirect.

The patient’s condition required immediate intervention to prevent further damage to his vision. The removal of the 11 adult worms stopped the immediate threat of larval hatching within the eye structure. The doctors confirmed the identity of the parasites after the physical extraction was complete.