Thelaziasis is an arthropod-born disease of the eye and adnexa caused by 
Thelazia callipaeda, a nematode parasite transmitted by drosophilid flies to 
carnivores and humans. Because of its distribution mainly confined to South 
Asian countries and Russia, it is commonly known as Oriental eye worm. It is 
often under-reported and not been given its due clinical importance. We report 
first case of human thelaziasis from Hassan District, Karnataka. Five 
creamy-white, translucent worms were removed from the conjunctival sac of a 
74-year-old male patient. Based on morphological characters, the worms were 
identified as nematodes belonging to the genus Thelazia and speciation was 
confirmed by CDC, Atlanta as callipaeda. Rarity of the disease and its ability 
to cause both extra and intraocular manifestations leading to ocular morbidity 
is the reason for presenting this case. From the available data, this is the 
first case report from Karnataka, India.