Herpes simplex virus keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To report two cases of herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).


METHODS
Interventional small case series. Two patients underwent uneventful LASIK. History of herpes labialis in one patient and herpetic eye disease > 10 years prior to intervention in the other patient was reported. Both patients developed stromal herpetic keratitis 6 weeks and 2 years after the procedure, respectively.


RESULTS
Treatment consisting of topical steroid drops and topical and systemic antiviral therapy was administered. Recurrences of the herpetic keratitis were seen after tapering of the topical steroids; four and three recurrences were observed, respectively. Final visual acuity was > 6/9 in both cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Herpetic keratitis after LASIK is an uncommon, possibly under-reported, entity. Even patients without history of herpetic eye disease can present with this complication. Oral antiviral prophylaxis may be appropriate when performing LASIK on patients with a history of ocular or systemic HSV infection.
Levy
Jaime
J
Ophthalmology Department, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. ljaime@bgu.ac.il
Lapid-Gortzak
Ruth
R
Klemperer
Itamar
I
Lifshitz
Tova
T
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003315:Cornea / Q000821:virology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000209:etiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir