Photos, symptoms at first, contagious?

We call Eye or ophthalmic herpes a herpes that develops at the level of the mucosa of the eye. Among the causes: a herpes simplex virus infection (HSV) Or A zona virus chickenpox infection (VZV). Eypes ocularly concerns around 60,000 people per year in France and is the leading cause of infectious blindness in industrialized countries, according to the National Union of Ophthalmologists in France (SNOF). How to recognize an ocular herpes? What are the symptoms of the beginning? A fatigue? Headache? How to treat it? Is the ocular herpes contagious?

What is the definition of an ocular or ophthalmic herpes?

Eypes, also called ophthalmic herpes is a herpes that develops at the eye mucosa. It is a condition transmitted by the simplex virus herpes (HSV) or by the chickenpox zona virus (VZV).

Photo of an ocular herpes

Is the ocular herpes contagious?

Yes. This affection contagious is transmitted by simple contact with a subject with the virus or by self -contamination. In the latter case, the person rubs their eyes after being in contact with other herpetic areas of their face (commonly called “fever”).

What are the symptoms of the beginning of an ocular herpes?

At first we can confuse herpes of the eye with conjunctivitis Acute:

• The eye has a reddish appearance
• The eye is tearful
• The eyelid is swollen
• The patient feels a feeling of “grains of sand in the eye”.

“Nevertheless, with a little habit, the location of redness around the cornea (while it is diffused in the event of conjunctivitis) already guides Towards a serious damage to the eye“, underlines Professor Laurent Kodjikian, president of the French Ophthalmology Society and Deputy Head of Service at the Croix-Rousse Hospital in Lyon. Once the pathology has been diagnosed, there may be recurrence; With each episode, the disease can worsen and can damage the cornea, gradually causing its opacification. The frequent attacks of this virus cause nerve lesions that reduce the sensitivity of the eye.

When to consult a doctor?

• When small vesicles grouped into bouquets are present in the eye area and on the eyelid
• If a fever button occurs

From the first symptoms – red and tearful eye, and swollen eyelids – you must consult an ophthalmologist who can make the diagnosis of the lesions. Because the virus will then attack the cornea, the transparent membrane that covers the eye, and cause keratitis. “At this stage, visual acuity decreases and it becomes an ophthalmological emergency: if nothing is done, in less than a week, the cornea can be completely destroyed”, Add the doctor.

What are the causes of an ocular herpes?

► First of all: Le virus called HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus) is the great manager of the eye herpes. It is easily transmitted by contact with the mucous membranes or the skin of an infected person. A newborn baby can catch a herpes of the eye if his mother was infected with a genital herpes, at birth (HSV-2).

► The disease can also be self-transmittedwhen a subject with Labial herpes touches his eye after scraping his fever button.

► Also, the VZV herpetic virus (Chickenpox zona virus) can also be involved.

Most often, herpes reaches the eye From a fever button (Labial Herpes). He gets caught by contagion during a contact with a person carrying the herpes virus, or by self-contamination of the subject who rubs his eyes after touching other herpetic lesions on the face. “The vesicles are very contagious because lots of viruses and the person who has a fever button is contagious from the first signs and the rest until the lesions disappear”warns the professor. The virus is also present in saliva. You have to be careful not to project saliva droplets. Contact lens carriers should not humidify their lenses with their saliva.

Only a attending physician or an ophthalmologist is able to make a diagnosis on a possible ocular herpes or one of his main complications: Herpetic keratitis, using a clinical examination.

The best known treatment of ocular herpes is based onaciclovir antivaL. It is in the form of 3 % ophthalmological ointment to apply 5 times a day for ten days. If antiviral eye drops are not systematically used, it is frequently used Antiseptic eye drops and those based on atropine who exercise an anti-inflammatory action and who dilate the pupil. When the intervention is too late, it is necessary to carry out a corneal transplant which will have to be accompanied by an anti -rejection treatment based on cortisone.

Is there a vaccine against ocular herpes?

Currently there is no vaccine against this virus, but research is underway.

Thank you to Professor Laurent Kodjikian, president of the French Ophthalmology Society and Deputy Head of Service at the Croix-Rousse hospital in Lyon.