Herpes simplex eye infections
Overview
A herpes simplex eye infection is a viral infection that can cause a painful, red eye. It's also called eye herpes or ocular herpes. It's important to get treatment because it can sometimes affect your sight.
Symptoms
Herpes simplex eye infections usually affect only one eye. The symptoms can be similar to some other eye conditions, and can include: eye paina red eyewatering of your eyesensitivity to lightblurred vision or other changes to your eyesighta swollen eyelidblisters or a rash on your eyelid or the skin around your eye It's more likely to be a herpes simplex eye infection if you've had one before, or if you've hadcold sores. If you keep getting herpes simplex eye infections they may become less painful.
Treatment
If a GP thinks you have a herpes simplex eye infection they'll refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). You'll usually be seen the same day so that you can start treatment quickly. You'll usually be prescribed either: an antiviral medicine such asaciclovir, taken as eye ointment, eye drops or sometimes tabletsantiviral medicine with steroid eye drops to reduce swelling Most infections will get better with treatment in a couple of weeks and will not permanently affect your eyesight. It's common for herpes simplex eye infections to come back. If you keep getting them a doctor might recommend that you take antiviral tablets every day to help prevent infections. If treatment does not work or you keep getting the infections, your cornea (the transparent front part of your eye) might become scarred, causing sight loss. If this happens you might need to have acornea transplant. If you use contact lenses, do not wear them until 24 hours after all your symptoms have gone.