Treatment of Ocular Disease in Eczema Herpeticum

Individuals with atopic dermatitis are particularly susceptible to herpes simplex viral infection and may develop dissemination (eczema herpeticum). Additionally, they may develop severe and bilateral herpetic ocular disease. The keratitis is commonly complicated by stromal scarring and slow epithelial healing despite topical antiviral therapy. We treated three patients who had herpetic keratoconjunctivitis associated with eczema herpeticum. In all three cases the keratitis resolved promptly (48 to 72 hours) without residual scarring after treatment with systemic acyclovir and topical trifluridine. The combined use of systemic acyclovir and topical trifluridine may be of similar value in treating all cases of atopic herpetic keratitis.