Herpes simplex keratitis after cataract surgery

PURPOSE: Herpetic keratitis is a rare complication of cataract surgery. We describe 3 cases of herpes simplex keratitis after cataract surgery in eyes with no clinical history of this disease. METHODS: Three patients underwent uneventful phacoemulsification of cataract with intraocular lens implantation. All were treated postoperatively with topical steroids. On subsequent development of corneal dendritic epithelial lesions in the operated eyes, the corticosteroids were replaced by treatment with topical acyclovir. RESULTS: The first postoperative day was uneventful. Corneal dendritic epithelial lesions were observed 1-5 weeks postoperatively and healed without sequelae after topical acyclovir treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the surgical trauma along with the topical corticosteroid treatment commonly prescribed after cataract surgery, physicians should be aware of the possible development of herpetic epithelial keratitis even in patients with no clinical history of this disease.