Does anyone know the prognosIs for Viral Keratitis?

[Barbie7085]

Hello,
I was recently diagnosed with Ocular Herpes because I accidently slept with my contacts for over 6 hours. I never ever sleep with my contacts, but I was on a plane ride.

I promptly went to go see my Eye doctor and he said we caught it just in time and started me on Torbodex for 3 weeks and Valtrex for 10 days. No scarring of cornea was present as we caught it early...

I have HSV-1 and was diagnosed years ago after I got my first outbreak and I never got an outbreak after that until now that I got it in my right eye.

How is the prognosis for this condition? My biggest fear is losing my vision from my eye. I am very scared as I am a mother and business owner and I deal with stress everyday. I also feel very lonely in all of this...I feel no one has this but me. My doctor says its very common and its treatable by anti viral medicine which will suppress the virus and wont affect my vision if treated promptly.

Does anyone know of any natural supplements? I would hate to take medicine for my entire life, but if my eye depends on it I will.

Please shed some light...

[JohnHaganMD]

DO you see an Eye MD ophthalmologist? or an optometrist? The choice of eye drops for ocular herpes is not a good choice. Tobradex has a steroid in it (dexamethasone) and steroids make HSV-1 WORSE and are contraindicated (in some cases steroids are used cautiously for intraocular herpes uvieitis or cornea stromal disease) but not the common superficial epetheial disease.  If you see a non MD optometrist I suggest you see an Eye MD. If you see an Eye MD I would ask why he/she chose a steroid containing medication.  Sleeping in contacts doesn't cause HSV-1 of the eye HSV-1 causes it.  Sleeping in contacts can cause a lot of problems but herpes is due to herpes. Natural supplements will not help. I think the best question is why your doctor used steroids when they are contraindicated). If it was HSV-1 oral antivirals and an plain antibiotic eye drop without steroids would have been the preferred choice.  About 50% of HSV-1 patients will have a second attack within 5 years.