Hello everyone

[ksamaras]

Hi all. I'm new to this forum and wanted to introduce myself. I've suffered recurrent HSV1 (herpetic) iritis/uveitis in the right eye only since 1984, when I was misdiagnosed and suffered my first prolonged and severe attack, leaving me with a fixed dilated pupil. Since then I've suffered 3 major attacks (lasting many months), and am currently suffering another which began on 11 June this year. Until I saw my current specialist, eye specialists in the past have treated me solely with Pred Forte eye drops - leaving me with a developing cataract and a predisposition to frequent subconjunctival haemorrhages (painful and disgfiguring, and the last thing you need on top of the disease). It is only now in my current attack that my new specialist has put me on (oral) antiviral medication (valaciclovir) - to be honest, I'm angry that this has taken so long. Apparently many specialists are 'too scared' to prescribe anyhting but eye drops (as a leading researcher in this field explained to me!). I was fortunate enough to see Professor Peter McCluskey in Sydney, and after thorough checks he confirmed that I should be on the antiviral as soon as possible at the commencement of an attack; he put me on 3 gms a day for a week, and now has me on 500mgs a day for 6 months (at least). I've suffered a recent vitrous detachment which left me with a few dark floaters (now starting to recede). (The eye has been thoroughly checked to ensure the floaters don't indicate disease deeper in the eye - seems ok). My eye seems to be responding to treatment, and I'm now down to 4 drops Pred Forte per day. Vision in the eye is impaired but ok - it feels pretty dreadful most of the time though, to be honest. Emotionally I'm battling depression, which I feel is a fairly normal response to living with this miserable disease. Anyway, thanks for this excellent forum, thanks for listening, and best healing wishes to all of you battling this horrible condition.

[Mike Bartolatz]

Welcome to the group! I wish you had come here 13 years ago and I would have sent you to DR M. for treatment there in Sydney, AUStralia. sorry your eye has been so damaged by this. at least it didn't cause Acute Retinal Necrosis which can occur when the herpes Sx viruses are involved (other herpes viruses also cause uveitis). whatever you do, stay on the antiviral to keep the virus in hibernation. you may also have to stay on one drop of pred forte a day too for the rest of your life but that is what you must do to keep the virus quited down. does a dilating drop help with the eye pain? did the virus destroy the muscle that opens and closes the iris or is it from adhesion that the iris is now fixed (common in HSV uveitis as the adhesion can encompass the entire iris and then glaucoma occurs as outflow of fluid is stopped from the eye.

Please join us in our general Discussion forum for further comment.

wish you quiet eyes,
mike