Thymidine kinase (TK) activity was examined in extracts of TK-deficient cells infected with low passage isolates of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) obtained from patients with herpetic keratitis. TK activity induced by the virus, relative phosphorylation rates of thymidine and iododeoxyuridine (IUDR), and Km values for thymidine and for IUDR were compared for TK induced by the different vir...

Forty-three patients with active herpetic disciform keratitis were entered into an open study to compare the efficacy of oral acyclovir (400 mg) with acyclovir ophthalmic ointment (3%) to inhibit viral replication during treatment with 0.05% prednisolone eye drops. All patients, regardless of the mode of therapy, were treated five times a day until they were healed. The mean time to heal in the...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of an artificial cornea (Boston Keratoprosthesis [KPro]) in herpetic corneal graft failures. METHODS A series of 17 herpetic eyes of 14 patients with failed transplantations, treated with implantation of a corneal graft with a KPro, was reviewed. Outcomes measured were retention of the device, visual acuity at 1 week, best visual acuity, last assessed visual acu...