title: Ophthalmic dirofilariasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a rare case of ophthalmic dirofilariasis in a 68-year-old man with sudden, intense pain and itching in the left eye. The nematode was located in the eye and recognized as Dirofilaria repens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Slit-lamp examination disclosed a moving nematelminth under the bulbar conjunctiva of the left eye. The nematode was surgically removed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nematelminth surgically removed from the subconjunctival space was identified as D repens on the basis of transverse sections and its macroscopic characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to identify the nematode as D repens, based on both its microscopic and macroscopic characteristics, to avoid treatment with anthelminthic agents. The surgical removal of the worm is the sole recommended treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Athens University, Greece.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Arvanitis
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Vakalis
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Damanakis
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Theodossiadis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004182:Dirofilaria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015822:Eye Infections, Parasitic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male