Herpes simplex keratitis after cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Herpetic keratitis is a rare complication of cataract surgery. We describe 3 cases of herpes simplex keratitis after cataract surgery in eyes with no clinical history of this disease.


METHODS
Three patients underwent uneventful phacoemulsification of cataract with intraocular lens implantation. All were treated postoperatively with topical steroids. On subsequent development of corneal dendritic epithelial lesions in the operated eyes, the corticosteroids were replaced by treatment with topical acyclovir.


RESULTS
The first postoperative day was uneventful. Corneal dendritic epithelial lesions were observed 1-5 weeks postoperatively and healed without sequelae after topical acyclovir treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of the surgical trauma along with the topical corticosteroid treatment commonly prescribed after cataract surgery, physicians should be aware of the possible development of herpetic epithelial keratitis even in patients with no clinical history of this disease.
Barequet
Irina S
IS
Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. barequet@cs.technion.ac.il
Wasserzug
Yael
Y
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000212:Acyclovir