Eye irritation - ocular herpes?

[tntgrady]

I have been suffering from an overall eye irritation for a couple of weeks now.  What started out as itchy, watery eyes (I thought it was just allergies - treated with Zyrtec), has now turned into a definite irritation. It feels like someone stuck a marshmallow in my eye - you know, the kind that come in the hot cocoa packets!!
It feels like there is something swollen in the eye, but I can't see anything when I look.  It looks like maybe the muscle on the left side is swollen (is this the superior oblique?).  A couple things that may be worth mentioning:  I currently have a HSV-I outbreak.  Is it possible that this could have transfered to the eye to cause ocular herpes?  Also, my sister had a virus in her eye sever years ago that caused her retina to detach. Could something like this be hereditary?
I appreciate any feedback from a doctor or anyone who has experienced this type of pain/swelling/irritation.  Thanks!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

HSV-1 infections on the eye are not difficult to diagnosis and its most likely you do not have it.

Your sister likely has Herpes ZOSTER (shingles) not HSV.

Even without antiviral medications the healthy eye and healthy person clear HSV in most cases within 2 weeks.

Most people with cold sores do not get HSV of the eye.

JH MD

[tntgrady]

Thank you for your response.  I went to see the Opthamologist yesterday and she diagnosed it as allergies, dryness, and a virus.  She did not specifiy HSV-1, but I think that's pretty safe to assume with the cold I am fighting and the cold sore on my lip and in my nose.  I am a little concerned however that she only gave drops to relieve the itching; no antiviral drops or ointment and said that the virus would have to just go away with time.  Is that a normal course of treatment?  I have seen that HSV-1 can cause serious complications, and my sister had chickenpox virus lay dormant and then caused retinal detachment and blindness in one eye.  I guess past experience has made me a little cautious.
Thanks again for any insight.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

HSV-1 can cause infections on the eyelids and on the eyeball. I suggest you see an Eye MD ophthalmologist. Find one near you at www.aao.org

JCH MD