Onchocerciasis, Ocular
Synonyms
Blindness, River
Ocular Onchocerciases
Ocular Onchocerciasis
Onchocerciases, Ocular
River Blindness
Filarial infection of the eyes transmitted from person to person by bites of Onchocerca volvulus-infected black flies. The microfilariae of Onchocerca are thus deposited beneath the skin. They migrate through various tissues including the eye. Those persons infected have impaired vision and up to 20% are blind. The incidence of eye lesions has been reported to be as high as 30% in Central America and parts of Africa.