Prophylactic perioperative antiviral therapy for LASIK in patients with inactive herpetic keratitis.
OBJECTIVE
To report the outcome of LASIK in patients with inactive herpetic keratitis in which perioperative antiviral prophylaxis was used to prevent the recurrence of ocular herpes.


METHODS
We report an uncontrolled series of five patients with inactive herpetic keratitis for at least 1 year before surgery in whom LASIK was successfully performed. All patients showed normal topography, pachymetry, and corneal sensitivity with no central corneal scarring. Perioperative prophylaxis was used in each case with oral valacyclovir and topical acyclovir ointment.


RESULTS
None of the eyes developed reactivation of herpetic keratitis during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that perioperative antiviral prophylaxis may protect the cornea from herpes simplex virus reactivation after LASIK.
de Rojas Silva
Ma Victoria
MV
Fundación Instituto Galego de Oftalmoloxía, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. vderojas@terra.es
Díez-Feijóo
Elío
E
Javaloy
Jaime
J
Sánchez-Salorio
Manuel
M
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D009824:Ointments; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009824:Ointments; D011355:Prodrugs; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir