Acyclovir for the Prevention of Recurrent Herpes Simplex Virus Eye Disease

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a leading cause of corneal opacification and infection-related visual loss. An estimated 400,000 Americans have had ocular HSV disease, and there are nearly 50,000 new and recurrent cases each year in the United States. 1 After the initial exposure and primary, often asymptomatic infection, HSV establishes a latent infection in the trigeminal or other sensory ganglia. Recurrent viral shedding can lead to disease of one or both eyes. Superficial ocular infection can involve the eyelids (blepharitis), conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), or corneal surface (dendritic or epithelial keratitis). Deeper involvement of the cornea (stromal keratitis) or anterior uvea (iritis) . . .