Herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis post cataract surgery

الملخص AR

Objectives: To study the incidence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) epithelial keratitis in the early post cataract surgery period.

Methods: During the five years of this prospective study, all patients who underwent cataract surgery by one surgeon at Ibn Al-Haetham Teaching Eye Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq were followed postoperatively.

If they had clinical signs of HSV epithelial keratitis (dendritic or geographical ulcers) during the first four weeks after surgery, they were enrolled in the study.

Results: Of the 1679 patients undergoing cataract surgery, 10 patients (0.6%) developed HSV epithelial keratitis during the first four weeks after surgery.

Nine of the ten (90%) developed HSV epithelial keratitis during the first week after operation.

Only two of the patients had a history of HSV keratitis.

Conclusions: HSV keratitis is one of the complications that may occur during the early post cataract surgery period.