Eye herpes is caused due to the herpes simplex virus and it is a common infection that affects the eyes. Such an infection causes inflammation along with scarring in the cornea region of an individual. This condition is also known as the cold sore affecting the eye. Herpes affecting the eye is transmitted by way of close contact with a person who is infected with the virus.

Eye herpes or ocular herpes is experienced by as many as 400,000 people in United States. There are different kinds or forms of herpes affecting the eye. These types may include a simple infection as well as conditions that may lead to possible blindness. The different forms of eye herpes include Herpes keratitis, stromal keratitis and iridocyclitis.

Herpes keratitis is a commonly found form of eye herpes and in this condition the epithelium or the top layer of a person’s cornea is affected. This condition usually heals without any resultant scarring.In stromal keratitis the infection permeates much deeper within the corneal layers. This can result in scarring and loss of vision. In some cases blindness may also be observed. This condition is quite rare and is found to be caused by late response of the immune system to the infection.

Eye herpes in the form of Iridocyclitis is a serious type of eye condition in which the iris along with the tissues surrounding it become inflamed and this causes greater sensitivity towards light along with pain, redness and blurred vision. Where the infection is observed in a person’s retina or the inner lining of the eye it is called herpes retinitis.

The symptoms of eye herpes include inflammation in the cornea area and this can be accompanied with severe ocular pain along with irritation. In some cases the cornea can also become quite cloudy and this can cause blurry vision. Some other symptoms associated with herpes of the eye include swelling in the regions surrounding the eye, irritation, recurring eye infection and redness in the eye.

Other symptoms include tearing, eye sores, watery discharge, sensation of foreign body in the eye and excessive sensitivity towards light. The condition can be diagnosed by identifying these symptoms. This form of infection can be easily transmitted by a person who is infected.

In eye herpes after the initial outbreak there is a 40 to 50 percent chance of the infection returning. The herpes infection enters through the mouth or the nose and then travels to the nerves and remains inactive there till the outbreak occurs. If the symptoms are present in one eye then there is a possibility of the other eye being infected as well.

The treatment of eye herpes is dependent on the location of the infection. If the infection in the cornea is mostly superficial then antiviral eye drops can be used along with antiviral pills to treat the infection. An eye doctor can also scrape away the epithelial cells in the cornea that are infected and this treatment is called debridement. Following this treatment a soft contact lens may be used for healing of the cornea.

Steroid drops are also used in some cases for treatment of eye herpes. This can help in reducing the inflammation and to prevent any scarring in the cornea. However steroid drops should be used only under the guidance of a physician as they are known to result in recurrent eye infections. In some cases of eye herpes surgery may be required to reduce scarring in the region of the cornea. Corneal transplant may be implemented in some cases so as to restore the vision.