Removal of Thelazia callipaeda from the subconjunctival space.

PURPOSE To report the finding of Thelazia callipaeda within the human subconjunctival space. METHODS An 81-year-old man with a history of traumatic conjunctival laceration that occurred 2 years previously had white worms in the subconjunctival space of his right eye. RESULTS Five worms were removed from the subconjunctival space via a local peritomy, since there was no conjunctival laceration noted during the examination. These worms were identified as T callipaeda. CONCLUSIONS T callipaeda cannot dig holes in the ocular wall due to the lack of hooks or sharp spines within the mouth. Therefore, the authors speculate that these worms entered the subconjunctival space through a conjunctival laceration that had occurred 2 years previously.