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The Curious Bag
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Ocular (eye) herpes is an infection of one of the human herpes viruses that affects the eye. This is the leading cause of corneal damage leading to blindness in the developed world, according to the National Eye Institute.
Identification
Ocular herpes is generally caused by infection with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), which is the same virus that causes cold sores, according to Dr. Deborah Pavan Langston, MD, FACS, of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School.
Symptoms
Herpes viral infection of the eye can lead to a sore on the eye or eyelid as well as inflammation (swelling) of the cornea, according to the National Eye Institute.
Significance
Although ocular herpes can be managed with antiviral drugs (such as acyclovir or valacyclovir), the virus cannot be cured and people are very likely to have another outbreak, according to the National Eye Institute.
Complications
People who have recurring ocular herpes may develop scarring of the cornea that, according to the National Eye Institute, can lead to blindness.
Types
Infection of the eye with another human herpes virus, varicella-zoster virus (which causes chicken pox and shingles) can also lead to ocular herpes, according to the American Uveitis Society.
Source:
National Eye Institute: Facts about the Cornea and Corneal Disease
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