Which type of HSV is more likely to cause herpetic keratitis in adults?

Herpetic keratitis is primarily caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which is the most common type associated with ocular infections in adults. HSV-1 is typically transmitted through non-sexual means, often during childhood, leading to latent infections in the trigeminal ganglion. When reactivated, this virus can cause corneal infections, resulting in herpetic keratitis.

In contrast, HSV-2 is more commonly associated with genital herpes and is less frequently linked to ocular infections in adults. While HSV-2 can lead to herpetic keratitis, especially in neonates and in cases of autoinoculation from genital lesions, it does not have the same prevalence in adults as HSV-1 does.

HSV-3 refers to the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and could lead to herpes zoster (shingles), but it is not predominantly associated with herpetic keratitis. HSV-4 (Epstein-Barr virus) is primarily known for causing infectious mononucleosis and is not related to herpetic keratitis at all.

The understanding of the epidemiology and presentation of these viruses clarifies why HSV-1 is the primary culprit for herpetic ker