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Ocular toxocariasis in Korea

  • Clinical Investigation
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Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To analyze the characteristics and clinical manifestations of clinically diagnosed and serologically confirmed ocular toxocariasis in patients.

Methods

Thirty-three eyes of 33 patients diagnosed as having ocular toxocariasis at the Hallym University Medical Center between January 1999 and December 2008 were included in the study. The diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis was based on clinical features and confirmed serologically by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. All patients were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire that included risk factors that might account for the introduction of Toxocara larvae. Demographics, social characteristics determined from the questionnaire, and clinical features were evaluated.

Results

A total of 33 eyes of 33 patients were enrolled in this study: 24 (73%) patients were men, and mean patient age was 41.6 ± 11.0 years. Ten of 28 patients (36%) who responded to the questionnaire had a history of contact with pets, and 23 (82%) had a history of consuming raw food. The most common symptoms were blurred vision in 22 eyes (67%) and floaters in six eyes (18%). The toxocariasis was unilateral in all patients, and the inflammation was acute in two-thirds of the patients. In 17 eyes (52%), Toxocara granuloma was found in the peripheral retina. Nineteen eyes (58%) had visual acuity of 20/40 or better at presentation and improved significantly after treatment. Final visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 26 eyes (79%).

Conclusions

Ocular toxocariasis in Korea usually affects young adults to middle-aged men. The clinical manifestation is unilateral and presents as acute inflammation with a peripheral inflammatory mass. Visual prognosis with appropriate treatment is good.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea

    Soon Il Kwon, Jung Pil Lee & In Won Park

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Sung Pyo Park

  3. Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea

    Eun Kyung Lee & Sun Huh

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, #896 Pyungchon-dong, Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, 431-070, Korea

    In Won Park

Authors
  1. Soon Il Kwon
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  2. Jung Pil Lee
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  3. Sung Pyo Park
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  4. Eun Kyung Lee
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  5. Sun Huh
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  6. In Won Park
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to In Won Park.

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Kwon, S.I., Lee, J.P., Park, S.P. et al. Ocular toxocariasis in Korea. Jpn J Ophthalmol 55, 143–147 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-010-0909-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-010-0909-7

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