Herpes simplex virus in human cornea, retrocorneal fibrous membrane, and vitreous.

A case of recurrent herpes simplex virus keratouveitis was studied using both electron microscopic and viral culture techniques. We describe a patient who had a particularly violent course, including three failed grafts, endophthalmitis, and wound leak. We report the identification of virus in a quiescent failed corneal graft and retrocorneal membrane; persistence of virus enabling its culture from the vitreous; and electron microscopic identification in the cornea removed at the third transplant. The identification of cases in which viral proliferation occurs is necessary for a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of herpetic corneal disease and for determining in which particular patient steroid therapy should be avoided.