ascorbic-acid and Eye-Infections--Viral

The coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several ophthalmic manifestations have been reported to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, including conjunctivitis, acute sixth nerve palsy, and multiple cranial neuropathies. We present a unique case of unilateral phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis in a 5-year-old boy in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Azithromycin; Child, Preschool; Conjunctivitis, Viral; COVID-19; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eye Infections, Viral; Fluorometholone; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Keratoconjunctivitis; Male; Ophthalmic Solutions; SARS-CoV-2; Slit Lamp Microscopy; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Visual Acuity

To describe the clinical manifestations of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) in a tertiary referral center in South Korea and to determine whether ascorbic acid treatment prevents recurrence of herpetic epithelial keratitis.. This retrospective cohort study included all consecutive patients with herpetic keratitis referred to our center from January 2010 to January 2015. Clinical features, ocular complications, and recurrences were recorded.. In total, 149 eyes of the 133 patients (72 male and 61 female) were followed for an average of 24.6 ± 13.2 months. Sixteen (12.0%) patients had bilateral HSK. The most frequent HSK subtype was epithelial keratitis (49.7%), which was followed by stromal keratitis (23.5%). Epithelial keratitis was the most likely subtype to recur. Complications occurred in 122 (81.9%) eyes. The most common complication was corneal opacity. Recurrences were observed in 48 (32.2%) eyes. The recurrence rates were lower in the prophylactic oral antiviral agent group (16 / 48 eyes, 33.3% vs. 49 / 101 eyes, 48.5%) and the ascorbic acid treatment group (13 / 48 eyes, 27.1% vs. 81 / 101 eyes, 70.3%) compared with the groups without medications. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both factors significantly reduced the risk of recurrence (acyclovir: odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence intervals, 0.12 to 0.51; ascorbic acid: odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence intervals, 0.20 to 0.91).. This retrospective study described the clinical findings of HSK in a tertiary referral center in South Korea. Prophylactic oral antiviral agent treatment and oral ascorbic acid administration may lower the risk of recurrence.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antioxidants; Antiviral Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eye Infections, Viral; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Keratitis, Herpetic; Male; Middle Aged; Ophthalmoscopy; Recurrence; Republic of Korea; Retrospective Studies; Slit Lamp; Tertiary Care Centers; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Visual Acuity; Young Adult