Ocular Herpes Treatment in India

Myra Malhotra, a 42-year-old graphic designer...

Myra Malhotra, a 42-year-old graphic designer and mother of two, had been struggling with recurrent bouts of redness and irritation in her right eye for over a year. Initially dismissed as severe allergies or dry eye, the episodes became more frequent and painful. This time, she woke with intense pain, extreme light sensitivity, and a noticeable blurring of her central vision. Terrified she might lose her sight and her ability to work, she saw her ophthalmologist urgently. A slit-lamp examination revealed dendritic ulcers on her cornea, a classic sign of ocular herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis. The doctor explained that the virus was actively damaging the clear front part of her eye. He recommended immediate treatment with topical antiviral eye drops (ganciclovir) every two hours while awake, along with a steroid drop to control inflammation, stressing that delay could lead to permanent scarring. The first week of treatment was grueling; the frequent drops disrupted her sleep and work, and the eye pain and light sensitivity made daily life difficult. She felt anxious and isolated. However, after one week, the pain subsided significantly. By two weeks, the ulcers had healed, and her vision began to clear. A month later, her vision was nearly back to baseline, with only a faint, non-visually significant scar. Myra's emotional journey was one of profound fear transforming into cautious relief. The episode left her with a healthy vigilance about any future eye symptoms and a deep appreciation for her sight, vowing to never ignore eye redness again.