Later on, the virus may be reactivated by stress, heat, running a fever, sunlight, hormonal changes, trauma, or certain medications. It is more likely to recur in people who have diseases that suppress their immune system. In some cases, the recurrence is triggered repeatedly and becomes a chronic problem. When the eye is involved, herpes simplex typically affects the eyelids , conjunctiva , and cornea . In some cases, the infection extends to the middle layers of the cornea, increasing the possibility of permanent scarring.
Some patients develop uveitis, an inflammatory condition that affects other eye tissues.
Tinted eye drops that highlight the affected areas of the cornea may be instilled to help the doctor evaluate the extent of the infection. Treatment Treatment of herpes simplex keratitis depends on the severity. An initial outbreak is typically treated with topical and sometimes oral anti-viral medication. The doctor may gently scrape the affected area of the cornea to remove the diseased cells. Patients who experience permanent corneal scarring as a result of severe and recurrent infections may require a corneal transplant to restore their vision.