BACKGROUND: It has been reported that excimer laser irradiation might elicit herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome activation. We describe a clinical case in which HSV DNA sequences were detected quantitatively after phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). CASE: A 90-year-old woman underwent excimer laser photokeratectomy for bilateral band-shaped keratopathy. Tear film was collected from both eyes using a Schirmer's strip before and 3 and 7 days after phototherapeutic keratectomy. OBSERVATIONS: HSV-DNA was quantified by a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. HSV-DNA was detected only on the third day postoperatively in both eyes. The amount of viral DNA was 2.0 x 10(5) (OD) and 1.3 x 10(5) (OS) copies/sample, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Excimer laser photokeratectomy stimulated viral shedding in the tear film. Ophthalmologists should be aware that laser irradiation can reactivate latent HSV.
BACKGROUND: It has been reported that excimer laser irradiation might elicit herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome activation. We describe a clinical case in which HSV DNA sequences were detected quantitatively after phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). CASE: A 90-year-old woman underwent excimer laser photokeratectomy for bilateral band-shaped keratopathy. Tear film was collected from both eyes using a Schirmer's strip before and 3 and 7 days after phototherapeutic keratectomy. OBSERVATIONS: HSV-DNA was quantified by a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. HSV-DNA was detected only on the third day postoperatively in both eyes. The amount of viral DNA was 2.0 x 10(5) (OD) and 1.3 x 10(5) (OS) copies/sample, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Excimer laser photokeratectomy stimulated viral shedding in the tear film. Ophthalmologists should be aware that laser irradiation can reactivate latent HSV.