Structural Changes in Chronic Herpetic Keratitis

Abstract

Herpesvirus was found by electron microscopy in the corneal stroma of five of 19 specimens obtained from patients with chronic herpetic keratitis. Structural changes involved the deeper layers of these corneas as well as the more superficial levels. Virus proliferation in the deep corneal layers may account for some forms of stromal inflammation in chronic herpetic keratitis.