Protracted herpetic keratitis in a patient with coronavirus infection (clinical case)

Purpose: a clinical case study to analyze features of herpetic keratitis course in a patient with coronavirus infection. The presented case demonstrates the herpesvirus infection activation of the body influenced by acute coronavirus infection with damage to the cornea. It resulted in the dendritic keratitis developed for the first time in a patient's life. In the initial stage of the disease, herpetic keratitis proceeded subacutely in the course of the antiviral COVID-19 treatment, including hormones, and severely intensified after the completion of the therapy course. Clinically, herpetic keratitis was complicated by edema and infiltration of the dendritic cornea focus. New ulcerated infiltrates emerged along with the previous focal area. The cornea became vascularized, and the infection spread into its deep layers, with the anterior segment of the choroid involved in the inflammatory process. The patient's vision deteriorated to 0.02-0.01, with a protracted course of the disease. It was managed to arrest the inflammatory process in the eye with the antiherpesvirus therapy (Aciclovir orally and topically). The keratitis ended in the formation of cloudy opacities in the central cornea. The patient's vision improved to 0.5. This clinical observation indicates the need for a specific therapy for coronavirus infection complications and standard COVID-19 treatment.