Oral Acyclovir for Herpes Simplex Virus Eye DiseaseEffect on Prevention of Epithelial Keratitis and Stromal Keratitis

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Abstract
HERPES simplex virus (HSV) is an important cause of corneal disease and visual loss. To assess whether antiviral treatment can prevent recurrences of ocular HSV disease, we conducted a randomized clinical trial in which oral acyclovir, 400 mg twice daily for 1 year, was compared with placebo in immunocompetent individuals who had a history of an episode of ocular HSV within the prior year. We found that acyclovir-treated patients had an approximately 45% lower risk of recurrence of any type of ocular HSV disease during the 12 months of treatment, without evidence of a rebound worsening after treatment was discontinued.1