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Eye Care (Expert Forum)
HSV-1, Dry eye? Something else?
Answered by
John C Hagan III, MD, FACS - Ophthalmology
Discover Vision Centers
Kansas City - MO
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
HSV-1, Dry eye? Something else?
by Loki117, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
I contracted genital HSV-1 about 4 months ago from oral sex. About 4 weeks later I started to get a bloodshot eye stemming from my tear duct toward my iris this gradually got worse until it was a noticeable bloodshot eye. My 2nd eye started to do the same becoming bloodshot. I went to the docs said it was mild conjunctivitis but I had no discharge and my eyes weren’t itchy and I had a very slight photo sensitivity when I woke up. So I went to an emergency eye clinic fearing this was ocular HSV-1 they performed a slit test said my iris in both eyes was slightly inflamed she didn’t think it was ocular herpes due to both eyes involvement and a lack of any bendrics. She gave me steroid based eye drops and 2 - 3 days later I went back a quick slit test by another doc showed my eyes where fine.
No apparent reason for this red eye I am still scared I know that Herpes iritis is rare (6%) both eyes to be envolved equally as rare (<20%). I had some unusual symptoms like when i woke up first thing my eyes where not bloodshot they gradually got that way as I was exposed to the sun and the day went on. Now 4 months later I have noticed that everytime im in the sun my eyes go slighty red could this be or is this related to herpes? I was having a second outbreak below when my eyes first flared.
The doc dismissed my herpes concern out of hand she did do a swab which came back with nothing I understand hsv-1 iritis would show neg in any event for an eye swab.
No apparent reason for this red eye I am still scared I know that Herpes iritis is rare (6%) both eyes to be envolved equally as rare (<20%). I had some unusual symptoms like when i woke up first thing my eyes where not bloodshot they gradually got that way as I was exposed to the sun and the day went on. Now 4 months later I have noticed that everytime im in the sun my eyes go slighty red could this be or is this related to herpes? I was having a second outbreak below when my eyes first flared.
The doc dismissed my herpes concern out of hand she did do a swab which came back with nothing I understand hsv-1 iritis would show neg in any event for an eye swab.
Doctor's Answer
by John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
Hi Loki117 Your symptoms do not suggest recurrent Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) type 1 eye infection or complications (keratitis, iritis). So I would concentrate on the genital herpes and trying to prevent reoccurence. There are a number of things that might cause the eye symptoms you describe, none of them are terribly serious. By the way when the doctor looked at your cornea he/she was looking for 'dendrites' (not bendrics), which is a characteristic leaf shaped mark on the surface of the cornea.
The sun is hard on your eyes just like your skin. Especially in fair complexion individuals sun exposure can cause the eyes to be red and irritated. The treatment for this is UV blocking sunglasses and some sort of a hat with a bill. If you eyes are feeling dry, burning, or otherwise irritated a trial of artificial tears (over the counter) would be helpful.
If your problem reoccurs be sure to follow up with whichever of the ophthalmologists (EyeMDs) you feel most comfortable with. Again I do not think your problem is due to herpetic eye disease.
JCH MD
The sun is hard on your eyes just like your skin. Especially in fair complexion individuals sun exposure can cause the eyes to be red and irritated. The treatment for this is UV blocking sunglasses and some sort of a hat with a bill. If you eyes are feeling dry, burning, or otherwise irritated a trial of artificial tears (over the counter) would be helpful.
If your problem reoccurs be sure to follow up with whichever of the ophthalmologists (EyeMDs) you feel most comfortable with. Again I do not think your problem is due to herpetic eye disease.
JCH MD
JCH MD