TechWEIRD SCIENCE
Worms mate in man's eyes, removed before larvae burst out
Doctors removed the pair from his eyes before the larvae hatched; the African eye worm spreads through mangrove fly bites and can stay silent for long periods.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN After HoursPublished
At a glance
- First reported by Ars Technica: “Worms mate in man's eyes, get plucked out right before larvae burst out”, with reporting from Subconjunctival Loa Loa: A case report (IJOOO), Live Science and Loa loa in the vitreous cavity of the eye (PMC, NIH).
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 4:25 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Ars TechnicaWorms mate in man's eyes, get plucked out right before larvae burst out
- Subconjunctival Loa Loa: A case report (IJOOO)Subconjunctival Loa Loa: A case report - IP Int J Ocul Oncol Oculoplasty facts used on air
- Live ScienceWorm in the Eye! Creepy Crawly Removed in Odd Case January 15, 2016 · facts used on air
- Loa loa in the vitreous cavity of the eye (PMC, NIH)Loa loa in the vitreous cavity of the eye - PMC - NIH facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSurgeons pulled mating worms out of a man's eyes, and they got them out just before the larvae burst out.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMating. In the eyes.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's Loa loa, the African eye worm.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentMangrove flies carry the larvae and pass them on with a bite, and the infection mostly stays silent for a long time.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the whole time, nothing. Then one day there's a surgeon and a deadline.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentArs called the case study a whole new meaning for bedroom eyes. I'd like that on the record as not mine.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThey got evicted right before the baby shower. The man had them over for months and nobody ever mentioned a lease.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
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