[Clinical manifestations of herpetic keratitis and uveitis].

Herpetic keratitis and uveitis probably represent two of the most under- and misdiagnosed diseases affecting the anterior eye segment despite their being major causes of blindness in developed countries. Recurrences are pathognomonic of herpetic eye disease and are responsible for the high socioeconomic costs of this affection. In recent years, the application of molecular biological methods and the results of long-term clinical studies have afforded us new insights into the pathophysiology of herpetic eye disease and have advanced our perception of how best to manage it. This article summarizes our current understanding of the pathophysiology of herpetic eye disease and, in the light of this wisdom, discusses specific conditions (epithelial and geographic keratitis, ulcerating and non-ulcerative stromal keratitis, disciform keratitis/endotheleitis, uveitis and metaherpetic keratitis) as well as contemporary therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. The possible mechanistic basis of recurrence is also dealt with, as is the sociomedical relevance of the disease. In addition to providing a documentation of typical clinical pictures, the article also furnishes information respecting the course of the disease, its diagnosis and treatment.