eye worm

American  

noun

1. a filarial worm, Loa loa, of western and central Africa, that is parasitic in the skin, or subcutaneous tissue, of human beings, often migrating into the eye region.

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Etymology

Origin of eye worm

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

A parasitic eye worm that typically affects cows infected a woman’s eye after she ran through a swarm of flies while on a trail run in California, according to a recently published case report on the horror movie-like occurrence.

From Fox News

CDC researchers, after testing the specimen, determined the worm was the species Thelazia gulosa — a parasitic eye worm that typically infects cows.

From Fox News

Well, meet “hypertufa” — your next new eye worm.

From Los Angeles Times

This half-inch-long eye worm — once only found in cattle — was one of several that infected Abby Beckley’s eye in the summer of 2016.

From Seattle Times

This Oregon woman was infected by a rare eye worm seen only in cattle.

From Seattle Times