Dylan recently underwent emergency eye surgery after he was diagnosed with a detached retina on July 22.

Following the July 23 surgery, the doctor informed Dylan's parents that he had contacted toxocariasis which is an animal to human infection caused by the parasitic roundworms commonly found in the intestines of dogs and cats.

It is estimated that some 10,000 toxocara infections occur yearly in humans.

Stephanie said her son is recovering well, but will lose most of his sight in his left eye.

"The doctors told us that hopefully Dylan will be able to see light movements and recognize color and shapes and there's a chance he'll be able to read the top letter on an eye chart. That's about the best we can expect," Stephanie said as she took a break from her job at the Helping Hands Child Care Inc. in Morganfield.

"It hurt a lot," Dylan said of his surgery, but he made a quick recovery.

He is a second grade student of Mrs. Bondurant at Morganfield Elementary and played Pee Wee League baseball this summer for the Marlins coached by John Smith.

Dylan's next visit to his Louisville-based doctor will come September 16 when Dr. Radtke will see him at Eye Care Consultants in Evansville.

Dylan wore an eye patch for several days following the surgery and continues to wear the patch as a precaution against suffering any eye or head trauma that could set back his recovery.

"Dylan has a gas bubble on the eye and the doctor wants it to go away completely."

Stephanie said Dylan has handled the surgery and loss of most of his sight in one eye like a trooper.

"The kids tease him at school a little bit, but other than that he's doing well.

"After the surgery, the doctors told us it looked like Dylan had not had any sight in that eye for a year.

"He never complained and we never knew anything about it until Dylan rode his bike into me one day and we decided to get his eyes checked out. At first we though he had a lazy eye.

"We were told that Dylan's retina had become detached and that he needed immediate eye surgery."

And it wasn't until after the surgery that the Seats found out about the toxocariasis and Stephanie said Dylan could have contracted the disease as long as four years ago.

"We just want to let all parents know about this and that it can happen to their children," Stephanie said.

She has prepared a two-page handout about the infection and will gladly share it with parents in the area.

The Seats have also scheduled a blood test for their two younger children to see if they have contracted the infection.

In most cases, toxocariasis infections are not serious and many people, especially adults, who are infected by a small number of larvae (immature worms) may not notice any symptoms. The most severe cases are rare, but are more likely to occur in young children, who often play in dirt or eat dirt's that's been contaminated by dog or cat stool.

Toxocara infections can cause OLM, which it did in Dylan's case. OLM is an eye disease that can cause blindness and it occurs when a microscopic worm enters the eye. It may cause inflammation and formation of scar on the retina.

Each year more than 700 people infected with toxocara experience permanent partial loss of vision.

Young children and owners of dogs and cats are at risk for Toxocariasis.

The prevention of toxocariasis can be prevented by the following means:

-- Have your veterinarian treat your dogs and cats, especially young animals regularly for worms.

-- Wash your hands well with soap and water after playing with your pets and other outdoor activities, especially before you eat. Teach children to always wash their hands after playing with dogs and cats and after playing outdoors.

-- Do not allow children to play in areas that are soiled with pet or other animal stool.

-- Clean your pet's living area at least once a week. Feces should be either buried or bagged and disposed of in the trash.