A worm measuring 5mm was successfully removed from the eye of a woman in Malda through surgery.

Doctors of Pinaki Roy Eye Foundation in the district headquarters said that they came upon this “rare case” this Monday following which a team was constituted to carry out the surgery.

The team comprised three ophthalmologists— Dr Dhurjati Prasad Roy, Dr Rashi Ray and Dr Sagnik Das. The trio conducted the surgery on Wednesday night. Aklama Bewa, a woman in her mid-fifties from Gangaprasad in Kaliachak-II block was suffering from blurred vision.

“Tears used to roll down from my right eye and it was very difficult to bear the pain. Last Monday I started suffering from intense pain and rushed to Pinaki Roy Eye Foundation for treatment,” said Bewa. Doctors advised a few tests and finally discovered that a worm was present in her right eye.

“Following the treatment, my vision has been restored,” the patient said. Dr D.P. Roy said, “When we first examined the patient, it was not easy to detect the cause of her problem. But through the tests, we learnt about the presence of a worm in her right eye. Through surgery, the worm was brought out.”

The doctors believe that it was an “unusual” case. “Worms are not usually found in human eyes. The case was a rare one. If the worm had not been taken out immediately, the patient might have lost her vision. If the living object had reached her brain, she might have even died. We are feeling satisfied that the patient is cured now,” the ophthalmologist said.

The doctors said the patient is being kept under observation for another 48 hours to monitor if the worm has laid any egg in her eye.