Eye Herpes (Herpes Simplex Keratitis)
Medical Author:
Jay Robert Woody, MD
Jay Robert Woody, MDDr. Jay Woody is a diplomat of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Medicine and is an Attending Physician at Parkland Health and Hospital System, Children's Medical Center of Dallas as well as several other north Texas facilities. He is a well-known and widely published authority in the field of emergency medicine and the former regional medical director of a freestanding emergency medicine practice. Medical Editor:
Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS
Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACSAndrew A. Dahl, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Dahl's educational background includes a BA with Honors and Distinction from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, and an MD from Cornell University, where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. He had an internal medical internship at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.
Eye Herpes OverviewHerpes simplex keratitis is an infection of the cornea caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Also known as eye herpes, this illness should be treated by a doctor as complications can arise. Eye Herpes CausesHerpes keratitis, commonly known as eye herpes, is an inflammation of the cornea, the clear dome that covers the front part of the eye. Herpes keratitis is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Herpes is a common family of viruses, and most people carry some sort of herpes virus in them for life. The condition is caused by a reactivation of an already present herpes simplex virus. The herpes simplex virus never leaves the body after an initial (or primary) infection. After that primary infection, the virus remains in a dormant stage within the nerves. Sometimes, the virus reactivates and causes further symptoms. It is not known why these viruses can cause keratitis in some people but not others. There are about 500,000 people in the U.S. with a history of herpes simplex eye disease. Approximately 20,000 new cases of ocular herpes occur in the U.S. annually, and more than 28,000 reactivations occur in the U.S. annually. It usually affects only one eye and is one of the most frequent causes of blindness in one eye in the U.S. |
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Eye Injuries Overview
Eye injuries can range from the very minor, such as getting soap in your eye, to the catastrophic, resulting in permanent loss of vision or loss of the eye. They often occur in the workplace, at home, in other accidents, or while participating in sports.
Eye Injuries Causes
- Chemical exposures and burns: A chemical burn can occur in a number of ways but is most often the result of a liquid splashing into the eye. Many chemicals, such as soap, sunscreen, and even tear gas, are primarily irritants to the eye and do not usually cause permanent damage. However, acids and alkalis are highly caustic and may cause severe and permanent damage to the ocular surface.
- Acids (such as sulfuric acid found in car batteries) or alkalis (such as lye found in drain cleaner and ammonia) can splash into the eyes.
- Rubbing the eye can transfer chemicals from the skin ...
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