Herpetic keratitis after corneal collagen cross-linking with riboflavin and ultraviolet-A for keratoconus

Abstract

To describe two cases of herpetic keratitis after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for progressive keratoconus. An 18-year-old male and a 21-year-old male with rapidly progressive keratoconus were treated with CXL. Postoperatively, on the 6(th) and 9(th) days respectively, a dendritic ulcer was observed in the treated eye. The corneal sensation was significantly diminished compared to the fellow eye. Both patients had no prior history of herpetic eye disease or cold sores. The keratitis improved dramatically over the following days after initiation of antiviral therapy. At 4 months, the visual acuity was stable without corneal scarring. Herpetic keratitis could be induced by CXL even in patients with no history of previous herpetic eye disease. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can facilitate the successful management of this rare but important complication.