title: Prophylactic perioperative antiviral therapy for LASIK in patients with inactive herpetic keratitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Instituto Galego de Oftalmoloxía, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. vderojas@terra.es
authors.forename: Ma Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: de Rojas Silva
authors.forename: Elío
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Díez-Feijóo
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Javaloy
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Salorio
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009824:Ointments; D011355:Prodrugs; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir