PURPOSE: We report a case of ocular worm treated surgically and confirmed by microbiological identification. METHODS: A 33-year-old Swiss woman presented to the ophthalmic unit, complaining of pain and foreign body sensation in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination disclosed a subconjunctival amber -colored cord in the conjunctival fornix. Presentation, clinical and histopathologic evaluation, and treatment are described. RESULTS: At the time of surgery, an alive and still intact worm was extracted through conjunctival incision. Histopathology confirmed the presence of filariasis. CONCLUSIONS: As the flow of immigrants from endemic areas of Europe increases, ocular manifestation of loiasis is becoming more frequent and ophthalmologists need to be aware of this diagnosis.
PURPOSE: We report a case of ocular worm treated surgically and confirmed by microbiological identification. METHODS: A 33-year-old Swiss woman presented to the ophthalmic unit, complaining of pain and foreign body sensation in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination disclosed a subconjunctival amber -colored cord in the conjunctival fornix. Presentation, clinical and histopathologic evaluation, and treatment are described. RESULTS: At the time of surgery, an alive and still intact worm was extracted through conjunctival incision. Histopathology confirmed the presence of filariasis. CONCLUSIONS: As the flow of immigrants from endemic areas of Europe increases, ocular manifestation of loiasis is becoming more frequent and ophthalmologists need to be aware of this diagnosis.