Herpetic Keratitis -- Ouch! need help - Herpes Message Board

spondylo · 03-31-2004, 02:07 AM

About 4 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with a herpetic keratitis (corneal ulcer)on my left eye. I've had HSV 2 for over 20 years and have never taken any suppressant drugs. For the most part have used L-Lysine and other natural remedies with good success. But this has been stubborn. I have been using the eye drops (Viroptic) the doctor prescribed for 4 weeks without a great deal of improvement. He wants me to go to an MD and get on Acylovir. Has anyone else had any experience with this problem? It is very painful and quite wearing on one to have it go on so long.

TIA

Alex76 · 03-31-2004, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spondylo

About 4 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with a herpetic keratitis (corneal ulcer)on my left eye. I've had HSV 2 for over 20 years and have never taken any suppressant drugs. For the most part have used L-Lysine and other natural remedies with good success. But this has been stubborn. I have been using the eye drops (Viroptic) the doctor prescribed for 4 weeks without a great deal of improvement. He wants me to go to an MD and get on Acylovir. Has anyone else had any experience with this problem? It is very painful and quite wearing on one to have it go on so long.

TIA

Hi

Is the herpetic keratitis due to HSV 1 or 2??

And how did u get infected in the eye??

spondylo · 03-31-2004, 08:38 AM

Hi Alex,

According to my eye doctor it can be caused by either type 1 or type 2.

The herpes virus lies dormant in the nerve ganglia. It can reside in the sacral ganglia where it manifests as genital herpes when active or in the trigeminal nerve ganglion which has nerve branches to the mouth and eyes resulting in outbreaks around the mouth, or as in my case, in the eye.

A healthy immune system can keep the virus dormant, but stress and too much UV ray-exposure can activate it. I have been under a lot of stress lately and also was out in the sunlight without sunglasses a full day before this occurred. I have just recently learned some of these things (i.e. about the trigeminal nerve and about sun exposure) so I am learning the hard way.

movingrightalong · 03-31-2004, 09:16 AM

So does your doctor think that it just spotaneously appeared in your eye (because you have had outbreaks in other places before)... or do you/your doctor believe that there was some sort of cross-comtamination from another part of your body?

spondylo · 03-31-2004, 11:54 AM

We are pretty sure it just spontaneously appeared as I did not have an active outbreak anywhere else at the time.

In addition to having some recent personal (not physical) stresses, my husband and I had completed a 13-mile hike the day before, out in the sun all day with the wind blowing and the pollen count was high, too.

I feel this is what triggered it.