Purpose: To describe the spectrum and recurrence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis in children and adolescents.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Methods: Twenty-three patients younger than age 16 years were diagnosed with HSV keratitis at one institution.
Results: All children presented with dendritic or punctate epithelial keratitis, and stromal keratitis occurred concurrently with epithelial keratitis in 14 patients (61%). Six patients (26%) had bilateral HSV keratitis. Eleven patients (48%) developed recurrent HSV keratitis at a median of 15 months after the first documented episode. Amblyopia occurred in three children.
Conclusion: Children with herpetic keratitis may have bilateral ocular involvement and are at risk for recurrent keratitis and amblyopia.