Herpes Keratitis Causes

Type I herpes is very contagious and is commonly transmitted by skin contact with someone who has the virus. Almost everyone — about 90 percent of the population — is exposed to Type I herpes, usually during childhood.
After the original infection, the virus lies in a dormant state, living in nerve cells of the skin or eye. Reactivation can be triggered in a number of ways, including:

• Stress
• Sun exposure or other UV light exposure (such as tanning beds)
• Fever
• Trauma to the body (such as injury or surgery)
• Menstruation
• Certain medications

Once herpes simplex is present in the eye, it typically infects the eyelids, conjunctiva and cornea. It may also infect the inside of the eye.