Eye Herpes – Causes, Symptoms & Therapy

Eye herpes

The eyes itch and burn. The feeling of having a foreign object in your eye just won’t go away. This could be eye herpes . These are herpes viruses (herpes simplex viruses), which usually first affect the lips as a primary infection ( lip herpes ).

What is eye herpes?

The word herpes is basically only used colloquially. Rather, it is the herpes simplex virus, which is abbreviated to HSV. This virus is also divided into HSV 1 and HSV 2.

Most people become infected with the HSV 1 form. This is transmitted by a droplet infection or a smear infection . Once the person has contracted this virus , it is stored in nerve cells for life. Therefore, a new outbreak in a disease-related immune deficiency is very likely.

causes

Eye herpes primarily affects the eyelids and the cornea. Only very rarely does an internal attack occur in which the inner choroid is attacked. Eye herpes rarely occurs without a previous illness with a herpes, for example, on the lips. Usually it is a consequence of a procrastination of the cold sore, which is also known as herpes labialis.

When to the doctor?

Herpes usually has a progressive disease course for a few days and then subsides. The course is aggravated when the herpes blisters burst open and multiply, for example by scratching the eye. The same can happen when wearing glasses.The temples of the glasses can cause the blisters to burst due to friction and thus promote the spread.

The best chance of a cure is to consult a doctor immediately at the first symptoms such as blistering or itching. Appropriate medication can limit the spread.

If the eye herpes spreads for more than a week, medical advice should be sought at the latest. In addition, consultation with a specialist is necessary if other symptoms occur. These include a large-scale spread of skin changes, numbness in the face or failure of the sensory systems. This primarily concerns the functionality of vision. In addition, it should also be checked whether hearing and smelling are impaired.

The herpes virus normally stays in one region. However, since it is a virus, it can also spread in a short time window. People who contract herpes regularly over the course of their lives are particularly susceptible. They are at greater risk of worsening because the immune system does not have enough antibodies.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of eye herpes:

  • eye redness
  • Blistering of the lids

The first sign of eye herpes is reddening of the eyes. In addition, the affected persons have a feeling that there is a foreign body in the eye. It can also cause severe burning and itching of the eyes. This leads to increased discharge of fluids from the affected eye.

Affected people often report that their eyes are sticky when they get up in the morning. Blisters can also form on the eyelids. This appearance is similar to that of cold sores.

The worst form of the disease is when the herpes infestation takes place between the wall of the eyeball and the choroid. The area affected is responsible for nourishing the retina and, in the worst case, can lead to the affected person going blind.

In the course of the disease of eye herpes, the location of the infestation is particularly important. The surface of the eye is usually affected first. At this stage, the disease with eye herpes can be treated well and quickly. Even after successful treatment, the corresponding virus remains in the eye tissue. As a result, the disease of ocular herpes can break out again at any time.

If the disease occurs more frequently, the cornea can also be affected. Under certain circumstances, scarring can occur here, which can affect vision.

Diagnose

The doctor determines the diagnosis of ocular herpes by taking a smear, which he then examines under a microscope. This allows the doctor to see exactly whether it is really a form of the disease of eye herpes.

complications

To a certain percentage, the complications of eye herpes are due to the fact that the primary infections occur within the first five years of life. The ophthalmologists who treat herpes in later years are therefore unaware of this primary infection.

If the herpes viruses (mostly herpes simplex virus type 1) have already established themselves in the neurons of the ganglion, it is possible for them to migrate back into the eye via the surrounding nerve tracts and trigger a new inflammation in different places. This is often found in the cornea, the keratitis. With each recurrence, the risk of further inflammation increases. It is statistically proven that after the first recurrence there is a 50% probability of a second and a third with a 70% certainty.

The deeper layers of the cornea are always affected in the recurring episodes of herpes. This leads to dense scarring. As a result, the cornea can swell and become cloudy , which massively affects vision. Immune reactions can occur to virus antigens expressed in the cell surfaces of the deeper layers of the cornea. In this context, clouding and permanent impairment of vision can also occur. If there is no timely and targeted treatment, blindness can gradually set in.

treatment and therapy

First, an attempt is made to fight the herpes virus with eye drops and eye ointments. For this purpose, so-called antiviral active ingredients are contained in the corresponding preparations . These are, for example, aciclovir, ganciclovir, trifluorothymidine, trifluridine and idoxuridine. Sunlight should also be avoided at the same time. This also applies to overexertion and the associated stress for the eyes.

Under no circumstances should you use any ointments to combat eye herpes on your own. Only the doctor can decide in which dose which preparation is suitable and does not cause any additional side effects.Eye drops and eye ointments are usually used with an increased dosage for the first three days. After a re-examination by the doctor, this dose is lowered and used for another ten days. This local therapy is often attempted to be carried out for a shorter period of time, since the high dose and long-term use can damage the epithelial layer.

Normal eye drops are not prescribed for reddened eyes. Because these cause a poorer supply of fluid to the eye. This is done with the help of so-called plasticizers. This is exactly what should not happen when treating the redness in the form of an eye herpes. This would only make the condition worse.

On the other hand, if the eye herpes is caused by another infection, such as bacteria , antibiotics are usually prescribed. However, these are only effective against the main disease, they are powerless against herpes viruses.

prevention

The main reason for eye herpes is the delay of a cold sore. It should definitely be taken seriously and dealt with. In this way, a disease of ocular herpes can be prevented.

In addition, towels and other hygiene items for the person concerned should be changed frequently and not shared with other family members. Otherwise there is a high risk of infection.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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