We report two cases of Loa loa (eye worm) infection in Iceland; the former in a 35-year-old woman born in Africa but living in Iceland for several years; the latter in a 31-year- old woman who had traveled in Africa. Both women sought medical attention due to discomfort in one eye. On exami­nation a worm was noted in both cases, moving under the conjunctiva, 3 cm in length and 0.5 mm in diameter. Both patients also had symptoms from the extremities; episodic swelling and itching in the former case, and muscle pain in the latter. Both patients were diagnosed with loiasis with Calabar swellings of the extremities and were successfully treated with albendazole and diethylcarbamazine. Increased awareness is needed for infections which previously have been rare in the Nordics.

Figure 1. Loa loa worm under conjunctiva of a 35-year-old woman. Sharpened image. Length of worm approx. 3 cm.

Figure 2. Loa loa worm removed from the eye of a 31-year-old woman.

Figure 3. Deer fly (Chrysops spp.), vector of Loa loa infection. Image from Wikipedia.

Video 1. Loa loa worm moving under conjunctiva of a 35-year-old woman. Length of worm approx. 3 cm.