HSK disease cause greater HOAs

Eyes with a history of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) have significantly greater higher order aberrations (HOAs) than eyes with no past history of the disease, according to a paper.

Professor Marc Labetoulle et al., Service d'Ophtalmologie, Hopital Bicêtre, APHP, Université Paris, France, enrolled 15 patients with a history of recurrent unilateral HSK and normal Snellen visual acuity. The eyes were statically compared with normal fellow eyes (control group) and HOA, modulation transfer function (MTF) and Strehl ratio were measured using the OPD-SCAN II aberrometer. The measurements were performed at least 3 months after the last case of herpes.

The HSK group presented with significantly higher total HOA, trefoil and tetrafoil, compared to the control group. The HSK group also had significantly lower MTF and Strehl ratio compared to the control group. Eyes with corneal opacities in the HSK group tended to have greater optical aberrations than eyes with clear cornea.

There were greater HOAs in the eyes with a HSK history and this could explain some of the visual complaints of HSK. This includes decrease in contrast quality or reduced colour perception.

Please visit the British Journal of Ophthalmology to read the abstract.