*3.2.1 Epithelial keratitis*

Epithelial keratitis is the result of the active HSV replication in corneal, epithelial cells. The most characteristic form is the dendritic ulcer containing small branches with terminal bulbs. The borders of the branches are raised above the corneal surface. The ulcer may be single or multiple. Several dendritic ulcers may form a geographic ulcer, especially in patients with immune system deficiency, treated with topical steroids or in the long course of the disease. Other forms of epithelial involvement include punctate keratitis or epithelial vesicles. On the slit lamp examination, epithelial defects stain with fluorescein and become evident with the use of a blue filter (450 nm) with or without additional yellow barrier filter between 1 and 3 min after the dye instillation. Other symptoms in epithelial keratitis may include: bulbar conjunctival and limbal hyperaemia, subepithelial stromal edema at the ulcer site and subepithelial infiltration of inflammation cells. Epithelial keratitis in the form of the dendritic ulcer may also be present in the stromal recurrent keratitis. However, if multiple recurrence occur, the neurotrophic ulcer is definitely more probable clinical form compared to the dendritic ulcer. Characteristic features of the different forms of the epithelial keratitis are presented in **Figure 1**.
