Laser in situ keratomileusis in patients with a history of ocular herpes

Purpose

To report the outcomes of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in patients with a history of ocular herpes simplex virus (HSV) or herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO).

Setting

Clínica Baviera, Instituto Oftalmológico Europeo, Madrid, Spain.

Methods

In this retrospective case series, the records of eyes with a history of ocular herpes that had LASIK from 2003 through 2005 were reviewed. The main outcome measure was postoperative recurrence of ocular herpes.

Results

Forty-nine eyes (48 patients) with a history of ocular herpes (HSV keratitis, 28 eyes; HSV eyelid lesions, 17 eyes; HZO, 4 eyes) were identified. All LASIK procedures were uneventful. Herpetic disease was inactive at the time of surgery in all eyes and for more than 1 year in 31 eyes. Perioperative antiviral systemic prophylaxis was used in 13 patients with a history of HSV keratitis. No eye developed reactivation of herpetic keratitis during the follow-up (range 1 to 28 months).

Conclusions

Laser in situ keratomileusis was safe in patients with a history of ocular herpes; no recurrences occurred during the follow-up period. However, candidates should be selected with caution and surgery performed only in eyes in which the herpes has been inactive for 1 year before surgery, without stromal disease, and with regular topography and pachymetry maps and normal corneal sensitivity. The most reasonable clinical strategy is perioperative systemic antiviral prophylaxis.