Wandering nematode in the vitreous cavity.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bancroftian filariasis is focally endemic in Egypt. There have been many reports of intraocular filariasis; the question of why one filarial nematode should cause ocular disease while another does not may be related to the behavior of the microfilaria and the location of the cross-reacting ocular antigen. METHODS: A 35-year-old woman with a white worm approximately 3 disk diameters in length penetrating the left macula, moving in the vitreous cavity, with a part of its length in the vitreous cavity while the rest was embedded subretinally, is described. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed and the worm was aspirated successfully. RESULTS: Parasitologic study of the aspirated worm identified juvenile Wuchereria bancrofti. Ivermectin 150 µg/kg was given orally to the patient after identification of the worm. Six weeks later, the patient's visual acuity had improved to 20/200. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal parasites should be surgically removed as soon as possible.