Orbital dirofilariasis

Purpose. To warn the ophthalmologist to consider orbital dirofilariasis in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory masses of the orbit. Patients. Two cases with non-specific swelling and pain of the orbit who ha d a initial diagnosis of "inflammatory pseudotumor of the orbit" Results. These are two new cases of orbital dirofilariasis. Conclusion. In the ophthalmic literature, the highest incidence of ocular d irofilariasis is reported in Italy. Since both these patients had no histor y of travel in endemic areas of Dirofilaria, this parasitic infection is pr esumably not rare in Italy and is probably underdiagnosed.