Mar
Yes, it is possible!
It may sound surprising to you but, yes, getting the herpes virus in the eye is possible. How does this happen?
We all know that herpes is a sexually transmitted disease so you might ask how one could possibly catch the virus in his or her eyes. This can happen if a friend or family member has caught the herpes virus and is already at the stage where the symptoms start to disappear. Disappearance does not mean that the virus has died out – spreading of the disease usually happens at this stage.
During this time, they are actually shedding the virus and this can be found in his or her saliva or nasal secretions. When you come in contact with any of these, there is a possibility that the virus would enter your nose or mouth and could travel through the same nerves as that of the eye. The virus may never cause real problems in the eye and could stay inactive. However, stress and other factors could activate the virus, thus an eye infection becomes visible.
When a person contracts herpes virus in the eye, he or she may show certain symptoms like red eyes, blurred vision, teary or watery eyes and discomfort in the eye region. Other symptoms could appear, depending on what type of herpes virus in the eye is causing it.
One common form of eye herpes is called the herpes keratitis. This form infects the cornea of the eyes. Fortunately, this type of herpes easily heals without scarring. Stromal keratitis is another disease caused by herpes virus in the eye that infects deeper into the cornea. This disease could lead to scarring, loss of vision and, if it gets worse, can cause blindness. When the immune system does not react as fast to herpes keratitis, it can develop into a stromal keratitis. The most serious form of eye herpes is called the iridocyclitis. Here, the iris becomes infected and the person becomes more sensitive to light and may experience pain, redness and blurred vision.
How do you treat herpes virus in the eye?
Treatment for these forms of herpes actually depends on the specific location of the infection. Eye drops and ointments are commonly used for infections in the upper layer of the cornea. Some people may also take oral antiviral pills. Debridement, or the process of scraping out the infected epithelial cells in the cornea, is a process performed by doctors for eye herpes. The use of eye patches and contact lenses would help give some time for the cornea to heal.
There are effective treatments available that can ease the pain and help control Herpes eye infection. Find out more about our recommended Natural Herpes Treatment.
Steroid drops are also considered when treating the herpes virus in the eye but these are not always recommended. This is because it could weaken the eye’s immune system. For severe cases, surgery is often performed, so that the infected area can be removed. This method may cause permanent corneal scarring so a corneal transplant would have to be done in order to bring back the person’s vision.