Woman who had 14 worms in eye a rare first

NEW YORK — An Oregon woman who had worms coming out of her eye is being called the first known human case of a parasitic infection spread by flies.

Fourteen tiny worms were removed from the left eye of the 26year-old woman in 2016. Scientists reported the case Monday.

The woman, Abby Beckley, was diagnosed with Thelazia gulosa. That’s a type of eye worm seen in cattle in the northern United States and southern Canada, but never before in humans.

They are spread by a type of fly known as “face flies.” The flies feed on the tears that lubricate the eyeball, scientists said.

She had been horseback riding and fishing in Gold Beach, Oregon, a coastal, cattle-farming area.

After a week of eye irritation, Beckley pulled a worm from her eye. Doctors removed 13 more.

The worms were translucent and each less than 13 milimetres — or half an inch — long.

No more worms were found and she had no additional symptoms.

— The Associated Press