Intravitreal and intracameral cysticercosis

A 49-year-old Mexican male presented with a free-floating cyst in the vitreous. The cyst was removed at the time of cataract surgery and on the first postoperative day a second cyst was found in the anterior chamber. The second cyst was excised by cryoextraction 6 weeks after the initial surgery, but the eye developed an inoperable retinal detachment and phthisis bulbi. Although the diagnosis of cysticercosis was made clinically, initially, the only laboratory evidence for parasitic infection was a peripheral blood eosinophilia. The patient later developed an enlarged liver which was consistent with parasitic infection based on a liver scan. The morphology and life cycle of the parasite is described as well as suggestions for surgical removal.