title: Treatment of viral diseases of the cornea and external eye.
abstract: Ocular virus infections remain an important cause of corneal and external disease. Herpes simplex, the most important, is easily treated when it is confined to the epithelium. New studies indicate that herpetic stromal disease and iritis are effectively treated with a combination of corticosteroid and antiviral without additional risk. Recurrences of ocular herpetic disease can be reduced with acyclovir given orally; the benefit seems to be greatest in patients who have had at least one episode of stromal keratitis. Herpes zoster can be treated with either acyclovir or famciclovir, but to be effective, treatment must be initiated within 72 hours of onset. Early treatment reduces the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia and may reduce the risk of ocular complications. Adenovirus infection (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis) is often spread by the ophthalmologist. New medications such as cidofovir appear to be effective against the adenoviruses in non-human systems and may have some effect in man, although previously, drugs that appeared to have an effect in vitro have proven to be ineffective in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Medicine, New Orleans 70112, USA.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy; D014141:Trachoma / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents