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A cornea infection causes your eye to become red and uncomfortable

	Herpes simplex eye infection is caused by the same herpes virus that can cause blisters on your lips (type 1) or on your genitals (type 2). Turn to ConsumerReportsHealth.org to learn more about the symptoms of herpes simplex eye infection.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org to find out which eye drops rate best for treating herpes simplex eye infection.

A herpes simplex eye infection will probably go away in a couple of weeks. But there's a chance it could cause more serious problems that might damage your eyesight. We've brought together the best research about herpes simplex eye infection and weighed the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk with your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

Key points about herpes simplex eye infection

• Herpes simplex eye infection affects the cornea, the clear dome-shaped layer at the front of the eye.
• An infection of the top layer (epithelium) of the cornea can usually be treated with antiviral eye drops.
• An infection of the middle layer (stroma) of the cornea can be more serious and possibly damage eyesight. This type of infection is usually treated with a combination of antiviral eye drops and steroid eye drops.
• Taking antiviral pills for a year can help prevent a relapse of herpes simplex eye infection.
• Preventing a relapse of the infection is important because the more infections you have, the more likely you are to damage your eyesight.

We encourage you to read our entire condition report and to consult with your doctor to learn more about herpes simplex eye infection. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, you’ll have access to our expert research and recommendations, and you’ll be more confident and knowledgeable when talking to your doctor about herpes simplex eye infection.