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Intraocular filariasis: a brief review

P C Beaver1

  • 1Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|January 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Human intraocular filariasis cases are rare, with few confirmed identifications. Many reported cases lack sufficient evidence, highlighting the need for detailed morphological descriptions for accurate diagnosis of eye worms.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Parasitology
  • Medical Entomology

Background:

  • Intraocular filariasis, caused by parasitic worms in the eye, is a rare condition.
  • Accurate identification of the causative filarial species is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze reported cases of human intraocular filariasis.
  • To assess the reliability of case reports based on the quality of evidence provided.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of 56 reported cases of intraocular filariasis.
  • Evaluation of case details, including observation of worms, removal, description, and species identification.

Main Results:

  • Only a small fraction of reported cases involved confirmed filarial presence with adequate description and identification.
  • Identified species included Dipetalonema spp., Wuchereria, Dirofilaria, Loa loa, and Wuchereria bancrofti.
  • Many cases were questionable due to lack of morphological description, artifactual findings, or non-filarial organisms.

Conclusions:

  • A significant number of intraocular filariasis reports lack sufficient evidence for definitive diagnosis.
  • Morphological description and identification are essential for validating cases of intraocular filariasis.

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