Herpes in the eye, also referred to as herpes zoster or shingles, usually infects the cornea of one eye. In early signs of the condition, the cornea--the front, outer portion of the eye--may appear slightly cloudy. Vision may also blur, and the affected person may experience light sensitivity and pain. Left untreated, permanent scarring can result.
Herpes Simplex Virus
Herpes in the eye stems from the varicella-zoster virus, the virus responsible for chickenpox, explains the National Eye Institute. Once a person has chickenpox, the virus sits dormant in the nerves. Some people have flare-ups of the virus, causing the virus to move through the nerve fibers. Typically, the virus will either infect the face and head, or the genitals. On the skin, these flare-ups cause a rash that appears to blister, as well as pain, fever and tiredness. The virus may infect the face, which will often lead to the virus infecting the eye.
Risk Factors
Flare-ups occur most often in older adults and people with weak immune systems, says the National Eye Institute. Triggers for the reactivation of the virus remain unknown as of 2010. However, a quarter of the people who have a flare-up that infects the eye will have a recurrence of the virus in the eyes within two years, says the University of Illinois at Chicago. The odds of subsequent infections increase with each flare-up of the condition in the eyes.
Treatments
To treat the condition, doctors prescribe antiviral eye drops for mild symptoms. For severe symptoms, doctors may also prescribe a steroid eye drop to reduce inflammation and painful symptoms. If the virus attacks the surface layer of the cornea, doctors may try to remove the viral cells. Some people may not respond to eye drops or treatment; in such cases, the cornea will scar permanently, says the University of Illinois at Chicago. Someone with extensive scarring that affects vision may require a corneal transplant to improve vision.
