Purpose: To report a case of ocular filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti manifesting as panuveitis.
Design/methods: Observational case report.
Result: A 30-year-old, healthy, Asian, Indian male presented with decreased vision and panuveitis with secondary glaucoma in the right eye. Careful slit-lamp examination revealed multiple, tiny, motile larvae in the anterior chamber. Indirect ophthalmoscopy showed vitritis with plenty of vitreous membranes, and subretinal yellow lesions in the peripheral retina along with retinal pigment epithelial tracts. An aqueous tap and a peripheral blood smear isolated microfilariae of W. bancrofti. Therapy with diethyl carbamazine citrate along with systemic steroids provided symptomatic relief.
Conclusions: Ocular filariasis due to W. bancrofti is very rare. It can present in an otherwise asymptomatic patient without any constitutional symptoms. Careful examination, prompt diagnosis, and early treatment can reduce ocular morbidity.