14 worms extracted from woman's eye who thought was a stray eyelash

In the world's first such case, around 14 worms were removed from a Oregon woman's eye which previously seen only in cattle that is spread by flies that feed on eyeball lubrication.

According to a report by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists said that 14 translucent parasitic worms of the species Thelazia gulosa was extracted from the Abby Beckley, 26-year-old woman's eye.

Beckley felt and itching sensation after she spent summer working on a commercial salmon fishing boat in Craig, Alaska.

Two weeks into the trip she felt something under her eyelid. She went to check it out and was horrified when she pulled out a tiny wriggling worm from the bottom of her eyelid. Terrified at what the worms were she rushed back to her home and went for an appointment.

What is Thelazia Gulosa?
Thelazia is a genus of nematode worms which parasitize the eyes and associated tissues of various bird and mammal hosts, including humans. They are often called "eyeworms", and infestation with Thelazia species is referred to as "thelaziasis" (occasionally spelled "thelaziosis").

Adults are usually found in the eyelids, tear glands, tear ducts, or the so-called "third eyelid" (nictitating membrane).

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