Herpes simplex keratitis treatment with vitamin A.

We produced chronic experimental herpetic keratitis by dropping PH-strain herpes simplex virus on scarified rabbit corneas and then injecting the rabbits subconjunctivally with low doses of corticosteroid (namely, triamcinolone acetonide suspension). Vitamin-A-treated rabbits developed milder, more rapidly healing epithelial lesions than untreated rabbits. Whereas most of the untreated rabbits developed moderate or severe stromal disease, most of the vitamin-A-treated rabbits developed only mild stromal disease or none at all.