Ocular Herpes Help (Eye Herpes)

[Gaotu2402]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I need some guidance on ocular herpes. Approximately 2 months ago I came in contact with HSV1 via unprotected sex. One month into my exposure I believe I passed it to my face. I've had symptoms of burning/tingling lips and muscle tingles along face. I would also seldom get headaches along my temples. During them experience my eyes would ache.

 

One week ago I started to exerience tingling on left side of face. The sensation went from lips to around eye. After one night of extreme eye pain I woke up and my opposite (right) eye felt awkward/dull. When trying to review the alarm clock everything was blurry. It's been constant the last two days.

 

I've been following up with local opthamolgist regularly. As of this week my vision dropped in right eye -0.75. The response has been consistent "chronic dry eyes no visible sign of herpes".

 

I've been on antivirals fairly consistent the last two months. Also I have topical antiviral (Zirgan) for eyes. Yes, I've always had dry eyes. I had LASIK three years ago. However this is an obvious change! The opthamolgist is pretty much fed up and has only suggested glasses.

 

What professional recommendations does anyone have regarding proper care?

[WCSDancer2010]

Gaotu: Welcome! How frustrating this must be for you!

 

I know nothing about Ocular Herpes so I won't comment on it except to say I personally would try another doctor or specialist as it doesn't seem that you are getting an answer from this one. Sometimes the local Dr's just don't get the exposure to the rare/odd things that can happen to us.....

 

Good luck - don't know if Adrial has more info on Ocular Herpes.... but that's my immediate thoughts :)

 

(((HUGS)))

[mr_hopp]

Hey Gaotu!

 

How do you believe you passed herpes to your face? Did you touch your genital HSV-1 outbreak and then rub your eye? And did your doctor swab your eye and test for herpes? Honestly I haven't heard of many ocular herpes cases, so I don't have much firsthand knowledge of it. I don't think it's actually that common, so I would assume that it's not actually herpes unless you get it swabbed and can find out definitively. Just my hunch, though.

 

Have you read up on ocular herpes on WebMD?

http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/guide/eye-herpes

[Gaotu2402]

Oh, I've definitely read up on it. Yes I believe it was passed. The doctor has not done any eye swab. Actually I had a dendrite around my cornea that was removed via debridement. However they did not send the culture in for testing...

 

This is a major opthamology office serving a large community. It's as if they refuse to acknowledge HSV for their own benefit. I suspect there isn't any visual cues because the continual antivirals. I'm lost and don't want to lose more eyesight...

 

[WCSDancer2010]

Ugh! How frustrating.

 

I would personally find the best Ophthalmologist in the state/nearby big city then and go there. Doesn't seem like they are finding you answers where you are, whether it's Herpes or something else. Time to get to one of the big hospitals/schools where they specialize in the unusual and difficult cases.....

 

I don't *think* herpes would go on the cornea - all the stuff I have seen in the past was that it was on the skin surrounding the eye. But I really don't know much more about it than that.

 

Good luck .... I can't imagine how scary this must be for you. Hope you get answers soon! (((HUGS)))

[mr_hopp]

Yeah, I wish we could be more support for you as far as a deeper understanding and knowledge of ocular herpes specifically, but I just haven't heard of many cases of it, so don't know much about it. Definitely let us know what you find out so you can help educate all of us more about it.

 

And for everyone else reading this that may start feeling more paranoid that now herpes is going to spread all over your body, know that this is a rare occurrence. Don't start stressing out over the potentiality of spreading herpes to other parts of your body. Just be cautious when handling your outbreaks, wash your hands with soapy water and you should be a-okay with keeping your outbreaks in a localized spot on your body.

[blurneworder]

This has been happening to me for 4 months. 

[HopefulHerpy]

Did you ever get any help? I’m dealing with an ocular herpes concern