title: Herpes simplex virus keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. ljaime@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lapid-Gortzak
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klemperer
authors.forename: Tova
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lifshitz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir