DR.ANN RESHMA RAJAN

DR. ANTHRAYOS C.V. KAKKANATT, DR. SREELAKSHMI ARUN, DR. AMITHA SUNNY

Abstract

74 year old male patient, k/c/o type 2 diabetes mellitus, residing at Thrissur, presented with severe itching, foreign body sensation and mild discharge right eye since 2 days. No h/o trauma/ foreign body/ distant travel/ contact with pets. General and systemic examination within normal limits. Ophthalmic examination showed a visual acuity of 6/24 right and 6/12 left. Slit lamp examination revealed a live, whitish motile worm subconjunctivally in the temporal bulbar aspect with overlying conjunctiva congested, with minimal discharge. Rest of the anterior segment and fundus was normal. Under topical anaesthesia, a 3mm conjunctival incision was made with No.11 surgical blade and the subconjunctival live worm was extracted in toto and sent for microbiological identification which confirmed Dirofilaria species. Patient managed with symptomatic measures and systemic antihelminthics as per medical advice.