Ophthalmic dirofilariasis.
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.
Arvanitis
P G
PG
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Athens University, Greece.
Vakalis
N C
NC
Damanakis
A G
AG
Theodossiadis
G P
GP
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