Herpes is not a very serious but an extremely annoying illness, which most people know in the form of a blister on the lip. But how can it also affect the eyes? Lip herpes is the most well-known and most common form of the disease, but herpes in the eye is a serious problem. How does it occur?
The one or more blisters that typically appear with lip herpes are the result of a viral infection. Because the viruses can remain in the body, herpes is often unfortunately chronic – the blisters eventually disappear, but they can reappear at any time. And whenever herpes is active again, the affected person can also transmit the disease – to other people, but also to their own eyes.
The viruses that cause the disease are infectious. For example, if someone with herpes touches their mouth with their hand, the viruses stick to the hand. If they then touch their eyes without washing their hands beforehand, the eyes can become infected. This so-called smear infection is common, but can be prevented with proper hygiene. It should not be underestimated, however, that many people are not even consciously aware when they make such movements. Even if you cannot recall a specific moment when the eye was infected, you should not completely rule out the possibility of having herpes in the eye. This possibility should definitely be considered if the corresponding symptoms occur. It is also difficult to say exactly how long it takes from infection until the illness breaks out. The virus can lie dormant for a long time and suddenly become active, especially when the immune system is weakened, for example by stress or too much UV light. Even people who have had herpes before must always expect the disease to reappear. This applies both to lip herpes and to herpes in the eye.
Unlike herpes on the lips, which is a very unpleasant but harmless disease, herpes in the eye is dangerous. It should by no means be treated as a purely aesthetic problem. In the worst case, untreated herpes in the eye can lead to blindness!
If you suspect that you are affected, you should therefore have an examination by an eye doctor. At Augenland Frankfurt, we are happy to arrange an appointment with you quickly and easily.
But how can you even tell if you might have herpes in the eye? Unlike lip herpes, it does not always visibly appear with blisters; sometimes blisters may form on the eyelid. Even without these, it is a very unpleasant condition: the affected eye – more rarely both eyes – becomes red and the patient suffers from severe itching. However, such redness can also have other causes. Eye doctors, such as our staff at Augenland Frankfurt, can take a swab and clearly determine whether it is a herpes infection.
If herpes is diagnosed, it is important to treat it as early as possible. If left untreated, it can penetrate deeper into the eye and damage the cornea. It is this behavior of the virus that can damage the patient’s vision and, in the worst case, even lead to blindness. But early and consistent treatment can prevent this.
Treatment of herpes in the eye, as performed by all eye doctors including those at Augenland Frankfurt, is antiviral. The symptoms are treated, but also the virus itself. There are various remedies – eye drops and ointments – that help against ocular herpes, but they should only be used in consultation with a doctor. Our eye doctors at Augenland Frankfurt are happy to help you find the right treatment for you.
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