Surgery to remove a 14cm-long worm from a patient's eye.

On the morning of December 24th, Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital announced that its doctors had successfully surgically removed a 14cm-long worm from under the conjunctiva of a patient's left eye. This is a rare case in the field of ophthalmology.

The image shows a 14cm long worm that was just removed from the eye of patient NNB - Photo: Provided by Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital.

According to Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital, the patient, NNB, 68 years old, residing in Sam Son City, was admitted with discomfort in his left eye, exhibiting symptoms such as: a gritty, obstructive, burning, persistent itching, continuous tearing, blurred vision, and pain in the left eye.

After a clinical examination and microscopic examination of the patient's eye, doctors discovered a transparent, worm-like parasite, approximately 14cm long and 0.5mm in diameter, moving in the temporal region beneath the conjunctiva of the eyeball.

Doctors surgically removed a 14cm-long worm from the patient's conjunctiva. Following the surgery, the patient's eye showed significant improvement, with no more symptoms of irritation, itching, or pain.

The eye of patient NNB before the worm was removed - Photo: Provided by Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai from the ophthalmology department of Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital, after parasitic worm larvae enter the human body, they migrate to various organs, develop there, and can cause damage to those organs.

In patient NNB, the worm developed beneath the conjunctiva of the eye. Fortunately, the patient underwent surgery to remove the worm in time; otherwise, eye damage would have been caused.

Through this, doctors at Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital recommend measures to prevent parasitic worm infections in the eyes and parasitic infections in the human body, such as washing hands thoroughly before eating, after contact with dogs and cats, or after playing in dirt.

Avoid eating raw foods such as blood pudding and raw fish salad; undercooked meats and raw vegetables. Ensure you have access to clean and safe drinking water.

Regular deworming of pets is essential to prevent parasitic infections from spreading to humans.

If you experience unusual symptoms such as eye pain, irritation, unexplained tearing, or blurred vision, you should immediately visit a specialized eye clinic for examination and treatment.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phau-thuat-gap-con-giun-dai-14cm-trong-mat-benh-nhan-20241224080041306.htm