Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with herpes simplex virus keratitis: Experience at a tertiary care centre

INTRODUCTION: Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis, a major cause of blindness.
METHODS: Materials and Methods: The records of 45 patients (22 males and 23 females) diagnosed with HSV keratitis were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were classified as having epithelial, stromal, endothelial, or neurotrophic keratitis based on clinical features identified during slit-lamp examination and the layers of the cornea. Patients were evaluated according to age, gender, type of HSV keratitis, recurrence rate, follow-up period (in years), other ocular findings, systemic disease presence, and medical and surgical treatment. Visual acuity was assessed as ≤0,1, 0,1-0,5, and ≥0,5.
RESULTS: Results: The mean age of patients in our study was 42,6±21,9 (years). The mean follow-up duration was 3,6±3,3 (years). Epithelial keratitis was observed in 14 patients, stromal keratitis in 27 patients, endothelial keratitis in three patients, and neurotrophic keratitis in one patient (p=0,083). No association was found between the patients' gender and follow-up duration, eye involvement, keratitis type, recurrence rate, other eye findings, systemic diseases, surgical treatment, and initial and final visual acuity. While no significant relationship was found between keratitis types and age groups or between keratitis types and systemic diseases (p>0,05), a significant relationship was found between keratitis types and other ocular findings (p=0,005).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Conclusion: HSV keratitis is a recurrent ocular condition that may lead to vision loss. Detailed evaluation, early diagnosis and treatment are very important in patients with HSV keratitis.

Keywords: Herpes Simplex Virus, Herpes Simplex Keratitis, Cornea, Keratitis