Currently, the assumption that immunological disorders in patients with atopy increase susceptibility to viral infections is very common. Herpes lesions in the eyes caused by the herpes simplex virus (Herpes simplex) or herpes zoster (Herpes zoster) are a major cause of visual impairment, and data on the relationship between these viral diseases that threaten vision loss and atopy are limited.

The study, conducted by researchers from the United States and Hawaii, was to assess the relationship between atopy and herpes eye damage caused by herpes simplex and the herpes zoster virus.

A population-based retrospective case-control study was conducted from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007, within the multidisciplinary medical organization Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, which provides assistance and services to approximately 15% of all the Hawaiian population. Study participants were more than 217,000 patients.

The clinical diagnosis of eye infections caused by Herpes simplex or Herpes zoster for the study period was determined on the basis of an initial search in the electronic database recording of medical diagnoses and reasons for treatment, then confirmed by an individual analysis the medical records of patients with uveitis and corneal lesions, which were carried out by a qualified ophthalmologist.

Status for atopic pathology was established on the basis of ICD-9 in patients with eye diseases caused by herpes simplex virus or herpes zoster virus, as well as in 2 groups controls, in each of which the controls and cases were randomly selected in a 4: 1 ratio.

A total of 114 patients were identified with eye infections caused by Herpes simplex, and 137 patients and eye damage with varicella zoster virus.

Compared with age and gender appropriate control groups, atopy patients have a 2.6-fold increased risk of developing eye damage caused by herpes simplex virus (p less than 0.001 ). A similar situation with eye infections caused by Herpes zoster - in patients with atopic pathology, the risk of this type of lesion is 1.8 times higher than in people without allergies (p = 0.01).

Patients with 2 or more atopic conditions have a 9-fold higher risk of developing herpes simplex eye virus infections and a 3-fold higher risk of herpes zoster infections.

The relationship between atopic pathology and herpetic eye damage can be explained by various factors, including impaired functioning of the immune system in patients with atopy. Clinically, the results of this study may assist in the diagnosis of herpetic eye damage in these patients.