WATCH: Giant diseased worm pulled from man's eye after hiding for two years

STOMACH-churning footage captures the moment a disease-spreading worm is pulled from a man's eye.

By Michael Havis

And the gruesome creature had been living in his eye for two years undetected, since a trip to Africa.

Eye doctor Shannon Wong recorded the operation to remove the worm, revealing the insect wriggling inside the eye.

After a dose of anaesthetic, Dr Wong gets to work slicing the eye open and dragging the worm out.

GRUESOME: The worm had got pretty big after two years squirming behind the eyes

But unfortunately for the patient, the parasite accidentally gets sliced too and comes out in pieces.

When the third and final bit is removed, it wriggles revoltingly before the doctor dunks it in a salty bath.

The insect is identified in the video as a Loa loa – better known as the eye worm – which is common to Africa and India.

It typically makes its in the fatty outer layer of the human skin, though they regularly travel to the eyes.

WRIGGLER: This worm is pretty lively considering it's in three pieces

People afflicted with the worm can suffer swellings and inflamed skin and, according to online sources, even death.

Dr Wong, who is based in Austin, Texas, USA, said: "The patient was referred to an infectious disease specialist for curative treatment. This is a very rare condition."

He added that the hole in the outer lens of the eye would heal on its own.