Herpes keratitis is a viral infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The infection can be transferred to the eye by touching an active lesion (a cold sore or blister) and then your eye.
Almost everyone is exposed to the HSV during childhood. After the original infection, it lies dormant but can be triggered by stress, fever, trauma to the body and certain medications. Once in the eye, it usually infects the eyelids, the conjunctiva, and the cornea. Symptoms of herpes keratitis include pain, redness, blurred vision and sensitivity to light. Herpes keratitis can damage your eye and cause loss of vision if left untreated.
Treatment of herpes keratitis includes antiviral medication and corneal scraping or corneal transplant for severe cases.
If you have any questions about your eyes or your vision, speak with your ophthalmologist. He or she is committed to protecting your sight.
