Of the viruses which commonly cause superficial eye disease, only herpes simplex and varicella zoster appear amenable to specific treatment at present. Superficial herpetic corneal ulcers respond well to a number of nucleoside and nucleotide derivatives applied tropically, and this is an excellent clinical model in which to test new agents in controlled trials. In such studies, combinations of alpha-interferons with acyclovir or trifluorothymidine have been shown to be more effective than either alone. No strategy has been found to affect recurrences of herpes simplex keratitis. Furthermore, deep stromol disease, uveitis and infections following corneal transplants are more difficult to treat because persistent inflammation does not necessarily reflect persistent viral replication, and may be aggravated by drug toxicity. Controlled trials in herpes zoster ophthalmicus have recently shown that there is a definite advantage in using antiviral agents over steroids.