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Herpes simplex keratitis and visual impairment: a case series.
Amit Kabra1, Prajna Lalitha, Kannan Mahadevan
1Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post-graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, India.
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
|March 15, 2006
Summary
Herpes simplex keratitis typically presents as mild disease, with most patients achieving good visual acuity. This study found temporary visual morbidity with favorable functional outcomes in the majority of affected eyes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Corneal Diseases
Background:
- Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is a significant cause of infectious keratitis.
- Understanding the natural history and visual outcomes of HSK is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the natural history of herpes simplex keratitis.
- To estimate visual impairment in patients diagnosed with HSK.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, descriptive case study over five years.
- Analysis of clinical records of patients presenting to cornea services.
- Ocular examinations performed by a cornea specialist under slit-lamp magnification.
Main Results:
- 212 patients (220 eyes) with HSK were analyzed.
- Visual acuity improvement to >20/40 varied by lesion type: epithelial (52.27%), stromal (70.33%), epithelial and stromal (58.97%), and endothelitis (42.10%).
- Mean visual acuity improvement was 3.44 lines.
Conclusions:
- The majority of HSK patients experienced mild disease.
- Most patients achieved final visual acuity of 6/12 or better.
- HSK generally results in temporary visual morbidity with good functional visual outcomes.