A 35-year-old man from a rural area in India went to the eye doctor because his left eye had been red and blurry for eight months. What the doctors found was a complete shock: a worm was slowly moving inside his eye. The man's vision in his left eye was very poor (20/80), and the medical examination showed swelling and a fixed, enlarged pupil. This unusual case was shared in the New England Journal of Medicine, where doctors explained how they found and treated the infection. This rare and unusual case highlights how infections can sometimes lead to very strange and unexpected health problems. How the Worm Entered the Man's Body The parasitic roundworm, identified as Gnathostoma spinigerum, is typically found in animals like cats and dogs. Doctors believe the man likely swallowed the worm's tiny larvae by eating undercooked freshwater fish or poultry, which are common sources of this parasite. The parasite then made its way through his body and, in a very unusual turn of events, traveled to his eye. What Is Gnathostoma Spinigerum? Symptoms And Causes Gnathostoma spinigerum is a parasite that can cause a serious brain infection, though this is rare. People can get this parasite by eating undercooked freshwater fish or poultry. The life of this parasite is quite complicated. It starts with adult worms living in the stomachs of animals like dogs and cats. Their eggs leave the host's body and hatch in water. These young worms are then eaten by small water creatures called Cyclops. Fish, frogs, or snakes eat these Cyclops, and the worms grow into an infectious stage inside them. When animals like birds, chickens, or even humans eat the undercooked meat of these infected creatures, the worms can travel through the body. They can end up in different places, including the stomach, liver, and sometimes even the brain or eyes, where they can cause serious health problems. How Serious Is Gnathostoma Spinigerum?Gnathostoma spinigerum is known to cause serious eye problems and even vision loss. An ophthalmologist noted that the man's eye had conjunctival injection, which is a common sign of inflammation. Doctors performed a special surgery called a pars plana vitrectomy to successfully remove the worm from the man's eye. After the surgery, they used a microscope to confirm the worm's identity. To treat the severe inflammation, the man was given steroids and a deworming medication. Eight weeks later, his symptoms were gone, but his vision only partially improved to 20/40 because he had developed a cataract, which is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye. Worm In The Eye of A 42-Year-Old Indian Woman Another 2018 case study published in the BJM Case Reports show, a A 42-year-old woman in India went to the eye doctor after a month of pain and blurry vision in her left eye. During the examination, the doctor was shocked to find a live, wriggling worm right inside her eye. This rare condition, known as "African eye worm," is caused by a parasite called Loa loa. The worms can move through the body's tissues, sometimes causing swelling under the skin. Although it's very rare, the worms can also move into the eye, causing pain, tearing, and the feeling of something being stuck in the eye. To treat the patient, doctors performed a surgery to remove the worm. They gave her a local anesthetic to numb the area, then carefully made a small cut to take out the worm. The worm was about a third of an inch long Although these cases are rare, sometimes the answer to simple problems can be difficult solutions. One must take care and ensure to visit their healthcare professional if their condition is getting worse or not getting better.