Can we know when a herpetic keratitis will reappear?

28/05/2021

After my first case of herpes keratitis, how will I know if I’ll have a relapse?

There is no measuring stick nor factor that can predict if a herpes simplex infection will return or not, that is to say, we do not know when it will reappear.

A patient who knows they have the virus must be alert in case eye symptoms appear such as red eye, discomfort, a gritty sensation or blurred vision. If this happens, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately to get a diagnosis and receive treatment as soon as possible so that infection and inflammation leave as few corneal scars as possible.

Dr. Víctor Chaorenrook, ophthalmologist at the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre