Challenges And Recent Progress In Controlling Ocular Herpes
Ocular herpes is currently an infection for life. For a very long time, finding a cure for HSV has been a significant unmet need for physicians and scientists alike. Currently, with the exception of VZV, there is no vaccine for herpesvirus infections . Also, the currently approved therapies to control ocular herpes provide limited efficacy and often have to be combined with steroids to reduce symptoms especially during the recurrent cases of HSK. In general, current treatment modalities reduce the symptoms only by a few days . Likewise, long-term use of steroids has its own serious side effects, which includes increase in intraocular pressure and possible onset of secondary glaucoma . While the clinically approved drugs, mainly nucleoside analogs, are clearly beneficial , they also suffer from their share of pitfalls. Development of resistance against the most commonly used drug, acyclovir, is common and long-term use of it is known to cause renal toxicity . Thus, there is a great need to develop new antiviral therapies for herpesvirus infections. Both currently approved as well as some emerging therapies are discussed below.
When You Must Not Take Them
- Do not take Valtrex tablets if you have ever had an allergic reaction to valaciclovir, aciclovir or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
- Symptoms of an allergic reaction may be mild or severe. They usually include some or all of the following: wheezing, swelling of the lips/mouth, difficulty in breathing, hay fever, lumpy rash or fainting.
- Do not take Valtrex tablets if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding, unless your doctor says you should.
- Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Valtrex tablets when pregnant and during breast-feeding.
- Do not take Valtrex tablets after the expiry date printed on the pack.
- If you take it after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
- Do not take Valtrex tablets if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
- If you are not sure whether you should be taking Valtrex, talk to your doctor.
What Are Medical Treatments For Eye Herpes
The doctor may prescribe an antiviral eyedrop or gel such as trifluridine or ganciclovir . Acyclovir , another antiviral drug, can be taken by mouth. Treatment should be started as soon as possible. Infections that cause deep inflammation may require use of corticosteroid drops and drops that dilate the eye, such as atropine or scopolamine . Occasionally, to help speed healing, an ophthalmologist may gently rub the surface of the cornea to remove infectious virus and viral antigens that contribute to the keratitis. Since most cases of HSV epithelial keratitis resolve spontaneously within three weeks, the rationale for treatment is to minimize damage and scarring. Antiviral therapy, topical or oral, is an effective treatment of ophthalmic herpes infections. Patients with frequent recurrences of ocular HSV may be placed on a long-term regimen of oral antiviral medication at a maintenance dose to reduce this frequency.
Also Check: What Does Herpes Look Like Pictures
Miracle Care Eye Clear Sterile Eye Wash
If you are looking for a cat eye infection treatment over the counter, one that you should probably consider is the Miracle Care Eye Clear Sterile Eye Wash.
As a medication for eye infections of your cat, these eye drops help make your pet feel more comfortable by flushing away irritating debris from its eyes. It is a veterinarian-approved product that is gentle, non-irritating, and effective.
Most cat owners find this cat eyewash product not only useful but also affordable. It’s used best with Miracle Care Eye Wash Pads. They like how these products help keep the eyes of their cats clean and free from irritations or any infection.
Key Features and Benefits of Miracle Care Eye Clear Sterile Eye Wash:
- The Miracle Care Eye Clear gently cleans and removes stains and bacteria in and around a cat’s eye.
- This product can also be used on other animals, such as dogs, horses, and birds.
- It is cheaper than other readily available eye drops for cats or cat eyewash.
- This product is available in two sizes: 1 oz drops and 4 oz drops.
Some Side Effects Can Be Serious If You Experience Any Of These Symptoms Call Your Doctor Immediately Or Get Emergency Medical Treatment:
- hives, itching, rash, swelling of the eyes, face, lips, mouth, throat, or tongue
- new or worsening red, watery eyes, eye sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or pain around the eye
Ophthalmic acyclovir may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
Don’t Miss: How To Keep Herpes Outbreaks From Happening
What Happens If Herpes Is Left Untreated
Without treatment, sores and outbreaks usually heal on their own. Oral herpes is usually considered a mild infection, but complications may appear in people with weakened immune systems.
The risk of complications with genital herpes is also low, though these include inflammation, swelling, and pain. Passing HSV-2 to a newborn can be dangerous, however. Doctors may recommend a cesarean delivery to mothers with genital herpes, according to the .
Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Genital Herpes Quickly
Emerging Therapy: Crispr/cas9 System
Currently, the only approved antiviral treatments for HSV-1 infections involve nucleoside analogs which inhibit the replication of viral DNA . Corticosteroids can be used to reduce inflammation, but they do not directly inhibit the viral infection . During a latent HSV-1 infection, such treatments are ineffective as the virus is not actively replicating its genome with its DNA polymerase. The efficacy of the even the newer treatments mentioned above to treat a latent HSV-1 infection has also not been demonstrated. This niche of treating a latent HSV-1 infection may be fulfilled by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats /Cas9 technology.
In another study published in 2016, van Diemen et al. significantly inhibited HSV-1 replication after transfecting Vero cells with one of twelve gRNAs with greater effects observed for the inhibition of essential genes . Transfecting cells with 2 gRNAs further impeded viral replication, and if two gRNAs targeting essential genes were used, viral replication was abolished: A six-log reduction in viral progeny was observed . With regards to latent HSV-1 infections, the CRISPR/Cas9 system could not efficiently edit quiescent HSV-1 genomes . However, it was effective in causing mutations in newly made viral DNA from reactivated HSV-1, further supporting the ability of CRISPR/Cas9 to confer prophylactic benefits to cells .
Don’t Miss: How Fast Can Herpes Be Detected
How Should I Use Zovirax Topical
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Do not take by mouth. Topical medicine is for use only on the skin.
Start using acyclovir as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms .
Wash your hands before and after applying this medicine.
Apply only enough cream to cover the cold sore or tingly area.
Apply only enough ointment to cover the genital lesion completely. Wear a glove or a finger cot or use a cotton swab when applying the ointment to avoid spreading the virus to other body parts and to other people.
Zovirax Topical cream is usually applied 5 times daily for 4 days. This medicine ointment is usually applied 6 times daily for 7 days. Follow your doctorâs dosing instructions very carefully.
Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Herpes Simplex Eye Infections
Herpes simplex eye infections are a potentially serious type of eye infection.
Theyre caused by a virus called herpes simplex usually the herpes simplex virus type 1 , which also causes cold sores.
Its important to get medical help if you think you may have the infection, as your vision could be at risk if its not treated.
Also Check: How Do You Make Herpes Go Away
When To See A Medical Provider
Patients should get in contact with their doctors as soon as possible if they suspect they are experiencing an initial outbreak of genital herpes, or are experiencing especially severe and frequent cold sore outbreaks.
In these cases, the sooner your doctor can test you for herpes and prescribe you medication, the better.
Following an initial diagnosis, you should work with your doctor to make sure that you have the right antiviral medications on hand to treat later outbreaks as soon as they happen.
Your doctor can also help set you up with a preventative course of antiviral treatment.
Once on medication, you should talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any serious side effects.
Its especially important to consult your doctor about initial or recurrent genital herpes outbreaks if you are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant.
In these cases, doctors use special medication and treatment strategies to not only support their pregnant patients, but also to safeguard the health of the babies.
How Does Herpes Simplex Virus Affect My Eye
The common situation is for the transparent front part of the eye to become infected. Infection of the cornea is called keratitis.
In most cases, the infection is just in the top layer of the cornea. This is called epithelial keratitis. Sometimes deeper layers of the cornea are involved. This is called stromal keratitis. This is more serious, as it is more likely to cause scarring of the cornea.
You May Like: Where Can I Get Herpes Medication
How Long To Take Them
For the treatment of herpes infections, the usual course of treatment is five days. However in some instances your doctor may want you to take your tablets for ten days.
For prevention of herpes infections, you should continue to take this medicine every day as prescribed by your doctor.
Do not stop taking Valtrex tablets just because you feel better. The herpes outbreak may not be completely over.
You May Like: Can You Be An Egg Donor With Herpes
Keep The Area Clean And Dry
Its important to keep dry any areas affected by genital herpes sores. Moisture triggers irritation and can make outbreaks even worse. Try drying outbreaks with a hairdryer on low heat settings instead of a towel. It also helps to wear cotton underwear, since cotton is gentle and absorbs moisture much better than synthetic fabrics.
Don’t Miss: How To Test Herpes Simplex 1
How Is Genital Herpes Spread
Genital herpes is usually transmitted by having sexual contact with someone who carries HSV. You can get genital herpes through direct contact with an infected blister or sore, usually through sexual contact. You can also transmit or get the virus when you or your partner have no symptoms present .
Most people who infect others donât realise they are putting their partners at risk.
- Around 80% of people with genital herpes donât know they have the virus because they have very mild symptoms or none at all.
- More than 75% of people who have genital herpes get it from people who are entirely unaware that they have it themselves.
Using condoms reduces your risk of passing on the virus by about 50%, but does not remove it completely.
You cannot catch genital herpes by sharing cups, towels or bath water, or from toilet seats. It can only be spread by close skin-to-skin contact.
HSV that causes genital herpes does not cause cervical cancer.
How Do I Know If My Cat Has An Eye Infection
Cat parents may notice a variety of symptoms indicating an eye infection, including: The whites of the eye may turn red. The third eyelid may be protruding and covering part of the irritated eye. Your cat may have other clinical signs common with upper respiratory infections, such as sneezing or nasal discharge.
Also Check: How Fast Does Herpes Go Away
How Can I Get An Acyclovir Prescription
You can make an appointment with a doctor or healthcare provider to get a prescription for acyclovir. If it is your first herpes breakout, you should see a doctor to ensure you have the right diagnosis.
Alternatively, you can book anonline health assessment with a medical advisor at an online pharmacy. This is a convenient way to buy acyclovir to manage recurring symptoms or suppress symptoms in the long-term. Your online pharmacist will help you determine the best course of treatment.
You wont need a prescription from a doctor to buy acyclovir online. Acyclovir tablets start at $8.50 for 15 tablets.
What Happens If You Dont Get Herpes Treatment
The good news about herpes is that its not deadly or even very dangerous. It might be annoying, but herpes doesnt get worse over time or cause serious health problems like other STDs can.
If you dont get treated for herpes, you might keep having regular outbreaks, or they could only happen rarely. Some people naturally stop getting outbreaks after a while.
There are a few reasons people may decide not to get treatment. They might not have that many outbreaks, or their outbreaks dont really bother them. Or maybe theyre not having sex, so theyre not that worried about having herpes right now. Whatever your situation is, getting treatment for herpes is your choice.
Having herpes can make it easier to get HIV, because the sores give HIV an open pathway into your body. So always use condomsto help prevent the spread of both herpes and HIV.
Don’t Miss: Home Remedies For Herpes Blisters On Lips
Thomas Labs Terra Septic Dog & Cat Eye Drops
If you find your cat with symptoms of eye infections, a medication like the Thomas Labs Terra Septic Cat Eye Drops will help alleviate any discomfort or irritation. A sterile eyewash that may also be used as eye drops, it would get a thumbs up from your cat’s veterinarian as a home remedy for minor eye issues.
Designed for easy usage, the 1 oz bottle design of these eyedrops allows simple and direct applications to a cat’s eye. Cat owners may also control the solution’s flow rate by applying varying pressure to the dropper.
It utilizes silver solution to combat bacteria and works in a targeted manner to help bring back normal functions. Firstly, wipe away excess stuff surrounding your cat’s eye. Then use these eye drops to flush the affected cat’s eye.
However, unlike the eyewash mentioned above and eye drops for cats, this particular sterile wash does not remove tear stains.
Key Features and Benefits of Thomas Labs Terra Septic Cat Eye & Ear Drops:
- These sterile eye drops from the Thomas Labs brand are high-quality products made in a state-of-the-art facility.
- It is designed for easy application and use.
- Can be used either as eye or ear drops.
- It is safe and non-toxic.
- It can be used to help keep your cat’s eyes clean and free of any irritant.
- This product effectively removes foreign debris from the eyes of your pet cat.
- This eyewash is formulated to have similar pH as natural tears .
- It is also suitable for kittens.
How Common Is Eye Herpes
In most cases, eye herpes is the result of HSV-1 infection.
According to the World Health Organization , an estimated 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 have HSV-1 infection globally and acquired it during childhood.
Over half a million Americans suffer from eye herpes and may experience flare-ups at various periods of their lives.
Also Check: Can You Tell If You Have Herpes
Treatments For Herpes Simplex Eye Infections
Most herpes simplex eye infections get better in 1 to 2 weeks, although they can last longer. Treatment is usually needed to reduce the risk of complications.
The main treatments are:
- antiviral eyedrops or ointment these stop the virus spreading and are usually used several times a day for up to 2 weeks
- steroid eyedrops these may be used in combination with antiviral drops to reduce inflammation
- antiviral tablets these are occasionally needed to treat more severe infections and afterwards to stop them coming back
Make sure you follow the advice you’re given and take any prescribed treatment as directed. It’s important to complete the recommended course of any medicine even if your symptoms go away. This will help stop the virus coming back.
Rely On Herpalert For Help With Cold Sores
Sometimes, these over the counter medications might not be enough to do the trick. When prescription medications are needed, the wait to see a doctor can sometimes be a week or more. This is too long to wait. That is where the professionals from HerpAlert are here to help. Whether it is herpes cold sores or herpes warts, HerpAlert can quickly connect someone with trained medical professionals who can quickly diagnose someones cold sores. Then, if treatment is necessary, it can be prescribed in the blink of an eye. Dont wait weeks to see a doctor for herpes treatments. Trust the friendly professionals from HerpAlert.
Read Also: How Do You Tell Someone You Have Herpes
So What Is Eye Herpes
Eye herpes, or HSV keratitis, is a common eye infection typically caused by type 1 herpes simplex virus , the same virus that causes cold sores around the mouth and lips. However, eye herpes can also be caused by the HSV-2 and herpes zoster viruses. Eye herpes affects approximately 1.5 million people around the world each year, and is one of the most common causes of infectious blindness in the USA and Canada.
People typically contract eye herpes by touching a cold sore and then touching the eyes with their contaminated fingers. Once contracted, the virus stays in the body for life.
Ocular herpes tends to infect the cornea, causing inflammation, eye redness, tearing, and in rare cases vision loss. Many people with eye herpes may not even know they have it, as it can remain dormant within the nervous system without causing any flare-ups. It’s not uncommon for HSV to reactivate months or even years after initially contracting the virus. Flare-ups usually resolve on their own within 12 weeks, and many of them will recur within 10 years.
Herpetic eye infections can be confused with other types of pink eye, such as bacterial or other viral infections. Instead of self-treating an eye infection with antibiotics you have at home, get it examined by an eye doctor or physician, who can prescribe the right medication. Eye herpes won’t improve with antibiotics unless an antiviral is also used.