the effects of oral acyclovir in the treatment of necrotizing herpetic keratouveitis

this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of administering oral acyclovir in conjunction with topical acyclovir and steroids in the treatment of necrotizing herpetic keratouveitis. all patients with necrotizing herpetic keratouveits who have been consulted during 1996-1997 at the farbi eye hospital were studied . the patients were randomly assigned to two groups. in the first group, topical acyclovir ointment and topical steroids were administered, while the second group took oral acyclovir, 1600 mg in four divided does in addition to the above mentioned treatment. the patients undervent follow-up examination every three days in the first three weeks and therafter periodically for one year.after three weeks, 92% and 88% improvement was observed in the first and second groups, respectively. the observed difference was not statistically significant. making nonpharmacologic interventions such as application of soft contact lenses, corneal grafts, and conjunctival flaps were inevitable in some cases in both groups. secondary infection was observed in three patients (first grop) and two patients (2 and group).the sample size was not large enough to draw a definite statistical conclusion, but it seems that the addition of oral acyclovir has no added effect in the treatment of necrotizing herpetic keratouveitis than topical acyclovir and steroids. in this study , the males were affected more frequently than females.