Ocular herpes, which usually affects one eye, is not a sexually transmitted disease. It's spread by contact with people who have the virus. Around 50,000 people develop ocular herpes in the United States each year; like other herpes infections, ocular herpes can lie dormant for many years and then recur. Ocular herpes can affect just the top layer of the eye or the deeper structures.
Ocular Herpes Simplex Type 1 Common Symptoms
Ocular herpes, sometimes called herpes keratitis, usually affects the top layer of the cornea, the clear domed membrane that covers the iris, the colored part of the eye, and the pupil. The conjunctiva, which lines the lower eyelids and the eyelids themselves may also be affected.
Typical symptoms of herpes keratitis include pain, redness, blurred vision, tearing, swelling around the eye, and light sensitivity. This viral infection of the cornea is usually superficial and heals without scarring. Herpes lesions may also be visible near the eye on the face.
Uveitis Symptoms Related to HSV Type 1 and Treatment
The herpes virus may attack the deeper structures of the eye, such as the iris, choroid layer and ciliary body, which make up the uvea, the middle part of the eye. Uveitis, inflammation of the entire uveal tract, iritis, inflammation of the iris, or iridocyclitis, a form of uveitis, can be a result of herpes simplex infection.
Symptoms of uveitis include the same symptoms as are present in superficial disease, but also include more extreme light sensitivity, a constricted pupil, floaters, vision loss and rapid worsening of symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Steroids, antibiotics and anti viral medications are used to treat uveitis caused by herpes simplex.
Vision Threatening Symptoms of Ocular Herpes and Corneal Transplanatation
Stromal keratitis occurs when the herpes virus penetrates deeper into the layers of the cornea. Around 25 percent of people with ocular herpes develop this complication, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard University states.
An immune reaction occurs to the virus that attacks the cornea causing scarring; this complication is the most common infectious cause of blindness related to the cornea. Steroid drops may help reduce inflammation, but severe scarring may lead to a need for corneal transplantation.
Treating Ocular Herpes Helps Prevent Complications and Vision Loss
Ocular herpes is a common manifestation of the virus responsible for cold sores, but can cause much more serious problems than a cold sore on the lip; corneal infection with the virus is a serious complication that can lead to blindness. Treating the virus helps prevent it from coming back again or from affecting the other eye.
Sources:
MayoClinic.com, "Uveitis" (accessed February 6, 2010)
AllAboutVision.com, "Eye Herpes (Ocular Herpes)" (accessed February 6, 2010)
Masseyeandear.org, "Ocular Herpes" (accessed February 6, 2010)
Sharon Perkins - Sharon is an RN with over 20 years experience in maternal child health, oncology, and ophthalmology. She was the RN coordinator for an ...
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