Herpes simplex keratitis after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide.

PURPOSE: To report a case of recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) epithelial keratitis after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

We describe a case of a 59-year-old woman with a history of ocular HSV disease and severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy. She received an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for macular edema in the right eye. One week later, she developed foreign body sensation, redness, and photophobia in the same eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed a corneal epithelial dendritic lesion. She was diagnosed with a recurrence of HSV epithelial keratitis and was treated with oral acyclovir 400 mg, 5 times a day, with good resolution of HSV signs and symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection may result in reactivation of HSV keratitis.