A case of intraocular cysticercosis treated by vitreous surgery

Purpose : To report an unusual case of ocular cysticercosis. Case : A 24-year-old male presented with acute visual loss in his left eye since 4 months before. He had been staying in Malawi in eastern Africa for humane activities for 2 years. He had reportedly elevated values of IgE and anticysticercus antibody before visiting us. Findings : Corrected visual acuity was 1.2 right and 0.6 left. His left eye showed a yellowish lesion in the macula and a white spheric floater in the vitreous. Both lesions were removed by vitreous surgery. Removed specimens showed no organism. During follow-up in the department of medicine, a long and flat organism was detected in the intestine which was later identified as a variant of Taenia solium. He had final visual acuity of 0.1. Conclusion : Intraocular cysticercosis may be difficult to diagnose in its early stage. Due attention is advocated to unusual findings and patient's background as well as hematological and immunological studies.