Peripheral ulcerative keratitis with corneal melt as the primary presentation in a case of human immunodeficiency virus.

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is an aggressive, potentially sight-threatening cause for peripheral corneal thinning. It is thought to be the result of immune complex deposition at the limbus, resulting in corneal inflammation and stromal melt. We present a case of a 43-year-old female patient of African origin, presenting with PUK and associated corneal perforation as the primary presentation of HIV infection. An urgent tectonic deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty was performed under general anaesthesia with excellent outcome. The patient was referred to the sexual health clinic and anti-retroviral treatment was initiated. This case is to the best of our knowledge the first report from the UK of PUK with corneal perforation as the primary presentation of HIV infection. As highlighted in this report, infection with HIV may initially be silent; therefore, it is vital to consider HIV infection when dealing with PUK of unknown aetiology.

Reactivation of Herpes Zoster Keratitis With Corneal Perforation After Zoster Vaccination.

PURPOSE: We present a case of reactivated herpes zoster keratouveitis of 6 years duration with corneal perforation requiring penetrating keratoplasty shortly after inoculation with herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax, Merck, Quebec, Canada). METHODS: Retrospective case report. RESULTS: A 67-year-old woman with a 5-year history of recurrent unilateral herpes zoster keratouveitis in her right eye presented with another recurrence 2 weeks after Zostavax vaccination. Three months later, she developed descemetocele and 2 months afterward, corneal perforation, which was managed by penetrating keratoplasty. Immunohistopathological examination disclosed positive staining for varicella zoster virus in most of the keratocytes adjacent to the descemetocele and perforation, most vividly in the deeper two-thirds of the stroma where the keratocytes were most dense, but not in corneal epithelium or endothelium. Electron microscopic examination showed universally severely degenerated corneal keratocytes in the corneal stroma adjacent to the perforation with variable numbers of herpes virus capsids present in half of these cells. Only a rare normal-appearing keratocyte was identified in the more peripheral corneal stroma. CONCLUSIONS: We present a case of reactivation of herpes keratouveitis shortly after vaccination with Zostavax in a patient with previous herpes zoster ophthalmicus. We demonstrate, for the first time, ultrastructural evidence consistent with inactive virus capsids in diffusely degenerated keratocytes in the extracted corneal tissue.

Long-term results of keratoplasty in patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

PURPOSE: To report the long-term results of keratoplasty in patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). METHODS: All 14 patients underwent keratoplasty for a corneal scar or a perforated corneal ulcer due to HZO at the Wills Eye Institute from January 1999 to August 2011. RESULTS: We performed 9 penetrating keratoplasties and 1 deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for corneal scarring, and 4 tectonic penetrating keratoplasties for perforated corneal ulceration due to HZO. Eight of the 14 eyes had a temporary tarsorrhaphy concurrent with graft. Postoperative follow-up time ranged from 12 to 132 months (mean 64 ± 38). Postoperatively, the most common complications were dense superficial punctate keratopathy and severe dry eye because of neuropathic keratopathy in 8 eyes, graft rejection in 5 eyes, and secondary glaucoma in 4 eyes. All grafts were clear, and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 6 eyes (42.8%) and 20/100 or better in 9 eyes at their final evaluation (64.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Although the sample size is small, we demonstrate that very good visual results in long-term follow-up can be achieved when keratoplasty is performed in patients with herpes zoster virus keratopathy. We believe that longer quiescent waiting period between active herpes zoster ocular involvement and keratoplasty may promote better visual results.