Hospital Based Study of Viral Keratitis: A Cross Sectional, Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Viral keratitis is one of the leading causes of corneal scarring and subsequent visual disability. An improved understanding of burden of viral keratitis and its clinical pattern can have a significant effect on prevention and treatment.
Material & Methods: Our study was a descriptive, cross sectional, observational, hospital-based study conducted over a period of 1 year. All patients with viral keratitis presenting to eye OPD during the 1-year period, were included in the study. History was taken with emphasis on symptoms, precipitating factors and any drug instillation. All patients underwent detailed ocular examination. Diagnosis of viral keratitis was made on basis of clinical presentation and slit lamp examination. Patients seen on 1st day were followed up on 3rd day, 7th day and 14th day.
Results: Total patients of viral keratitis in our study were 241 out of 22503 patients (1.07%). There were 123 cases (53.48%) of HSV keratitis, 81 cases (35.22%) of Adenoviral keratitis, 26 cases (11.30%) of HZO keratitis. Commonest clinical presentation was epithelial keratitis (43.04%), followed by sub epithelial infiltration (35.22%) and stromal keratitis without ulceration (16.52% cases). Visual Acuity at presentation was 6/12-6/36 (64.77% of patients), while final visual acuity at two weeks follow up was 6/6-6/12 (81.30% of patients).
Conclusion: Maximum cases were Herpes simplex keratitis and most common clinical presentation was epithelial keratitis. Very few epidemiological data is available on viral keratitis in developing countries so a long-term study is required to estimate the burden of disease.