Recurrence Rates of Herpes Simplex Virus Keratitis in Contact Lens and Non-Contact Lens Wearers : Eye & Contact Lens

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Recurrence Rates of Herpes Simplex Virus Keratitis in Contact Lens and Non-Contact Lens Wearers

Mucci, Joti Juneja M.D.; Utz, Virginia M. M.D.; Galor, Anat M.D.; Feuer, William B.S.; Jeng, Bennie H. M.D.

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Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice 35(4):p 185-187, July 2009. | DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0b013e3181a9d788

Abstract

Objective: 

To evaluate the recurrence rates of herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis in contact lens wearers compared with non-contact lens wearers.

Methods: 

Retrospective cohort study. Charts of patients diagnosed with HSV keratitis seen at the Cleveland Clinic between January 2001 and December 2004 were reviewed.

Results: 

One hundred seventeen patients were included in this study: 21 contact lens wearers and 96 non-contact lens wearers. Contact lens wearers were found to have a higher median recurrence rate (0.4 episodes/year) compared with non-contact lens wearers (0.2 episodes/year) (P=0.02). A multivariate regression evaluating factors predictive of the number of recurrences found that contact lens use remained a significant predictive variable (P=0.02) when accounting for patient demographic and disease factors and variable follow-up time.

Conclusions: 

Patients with a history of HSV keratitis should be counseled about the potential increased risk of recurrence that may be associated with contact lens wear.

© 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

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