OPHTHALMIC DIROFILARIASIS

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of ophthalmic dirofilariasis in a 68-ye ar-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 t he bulbar conjunctiva of the left eye, The nematode was surgically rem oved. RESULTS: The nematelminth surgically removed from the subconjunc tival space was identified as D repens on the basis of transverse sect ions and its macroscopic characteristics. CONCLUSION: It is important to identify the nematode as D repens, based on both its microscopic an d macroscopic characteristics, to avoid treatment with anthelminthic a gents, The surgical removal of the worm is the sole recommended treatm ent.