Eye herpes causes, treatment and home remedies

Eye Cold - The unknown danger

Everyone knows the unpleasant vesicles on the lips, and many only think of them when they hear the word "herpes". However, almost unknown is herpes on the eye, which also manifests itself in completely different symptoms. Eye herpes is not an independent disease.

contents

• Eye Cold - The unknown danger
• symptoms
• Depraved herpes from the mouth
• treatment
• confusion
• Why is an early diagnosis important??
• The viruses remain in the body
• Additional infections
• What can affected people do??
• Almost everyone carries the virus in themselves
• Prevent

symptoms

In an ocular herpes are no bubbles, but one eye is red or itchy. It is not a cosmetic problem: the eye inflammation can penetrate the cornea and cause visual disturbances or even blindness in an emergency. That's why you should go to the ophthalmologist.

Herpes on the eye manifests itself among other things by redness, itching and a foreign body sensation. (Image: andreaskoch02 / fotolia.com)

The affected persons feel as if they have a foreign object in the eye. The conjunctiva is wet and sticky in the morning.

In addition, there is a feeling of weakness, headache, photosensitivity, fever and malaise.

Depraved herpes from the mouth

Eyes herpes is usually herpes in the mouth, that those affected in the eyes carry off. This happens quickly, for example, when we scratch our infected lips and rub our eyes with the same finger.

Since herpes spreads but especially in the mouth area, a disease in the eyes is relatively rare.

Usually there is first a mouth sore. If we scratch the lip and then touch the eye with the same finger, the virus is transmitted quickly. (Image: lavizzara / fotolia.com)

treatment

The infection is easy to treat and heals quickly with the right medication. Left untreated, however, the inflammation can severely and permanently damage eyesight; the herpes virus then destroys deeper layers in the eye.

confusion

Augenherpes can easily be confused. A parasite - the Akanthamöbe - eats through the cornea and migrates to the spinal cord. Every year around 200 people in Germany become infected with this pathogen, often through neglected contact lenses. The symptoms, red and itchy eyes, are similar.

Physicians often confuse eye sores with other infections, be it through bacteria or fungi. Then they prescribe an antibiotic and consider the disease cured when the symptoms disappear after a few days. The herpesviruses remain in the organism and can even penetrate into the brain via the nerve tracts.

A sufferer writes: "I have been suffering from eye sores since the age of six, meanwhile I am 29 years old. Up to my 25th year, no doctor could tell me what I really have. I was with all doctors, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, general practitioner, etc., allergy tests have revealed nothing. I did not know anyone who had the same disease until I came to an ophthalmologist whose daughter had exactly the same symptoms. Now finally I knew how to prevent eye herpes and which ointment I need to use to avoid spreading all over my face. "

Why is an early diagnosis important??

The herpes viruses first multiply in the conjunctiva. If not fought early, they spread in the cornea. This leads to scars, clouding and sometimes blindness. In the worst case, only a cornea transplant helps.

Very rarely, the virus also infects the choroid between retina and eyeball. If this region fails, the retina is no longer supplied - that means blindness.

Rarely does a hole appear in the retina, allowing bacteria to invade and cause greens such as cataracts.

Once the herpes virus is in the body, under certain circumstances, it can become active again at any time. (Image: Spectral-Design / fotolia.com)

The viruses remain in the body

If the first infestation was strong, the virus later reactivates often and a new disease usually goes worse. In the nerve cells "sleeping" herpes viruses can be active again at any time, if the immune system of the affected weakens. A flu-like infection or a long stay in the sun is enough.

Once the viruses are first in the body, they can not be completely removed. This is why it is necessary to prevent the viruses from multiplying, especially with a first infection.

This is done by a viral agent mi acyclovir. There is also this substance as eye drops, but a systemic application is more effective. However, trifluridine, which also helps against cold sores, is given in drops only.

Additional infections

Eye herpes can cause other illnesses, namely, when the herpes form wounds, in the bacteria can penetrate. In contrast, antibiotics help.

What can affected people do??

For people with cold sores, people should avoid stress and sunlight. Cooling the eye relieves the symptoms. You can do this by placing rechargeable batteries in the freezer compartment, wrapping them in a cloth and placing them on the inflamed eye.

Attention: Under no circumstances use over-the-counter eye drops. They restrict the supply of the eye with fluid and thus aggravate the symptoms.

Herpes infections can not be treated by themselves.

The risk of infection is low, but those affected should prevent the infection of their roommates. Wash your clothes with disinfectant detergent and do not use common towels or washcloths.

Pecking the eyes should avoid their partners in the time of acute infection.

Self-treatment with eye drops should definitely be avoided. Because this can aggravate the symptoms. (Image: lpictures / fotolia.com)

Almost everyone carries the virus in themselves

The herpes virus is widespread and most sufferers take it up in childhood, usually through lip contact from adults. However, only a few of the disease breaks out.

Prevent

Preventing means first in herpes hygiene: 90% of all people carry the virus in itself, and so it is primarily about avoiding an outbreak. The best way to do this is to strengthen your immune system, so eat healthy, sleep enough and avoid excessive stress.

Be careful not to transfer an acute infection to the lips, nose, or other parts of the body to the eyes. So wash your hands before rubbing your eyes if you previously touched the affected areas. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)