A 51-year-old man with high intraocular pressure on the left eye was referred to our clinic. A laser iridotomy was performed with full anti-glaucoma medication prior to the referral. There was a fixed dilated irregular pupil of the left eye, accompanied with mild corneal edema, a paracentral stromal corneal haze, patchy iris atrophy, fine keratic precipitates, trace amounts of cells and pigments in the anterior chamber and a patent iridotomy. Medical history was revealed a previous herpetic episode 7 years ago and fluoxetine use for major depression for 2 years which he overdosed 5 days before his ocular symptoms have started. Ocular herpes simplex virus activation associated with high dose fluoxetine was suspected. Fluoxetine was discontinued. Oral acyclovir, topical steroids and anti-glaucoma medication has been prescribed. A week later, on his control visit, the intraocular pressure was normalized and clinical findings have subsided. Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, and some other anti-depressants, has been proved to suppress cellular immunity. Herpes simplex virus activation after surreptitious self-administration of high dose fluoxetine in this case is much more probable than coincidence. This is the first reported case of ocular herpes activation related to fluoxetine use.
Keywords: ocular herpes simplex virus activation, fluoxetine, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, SSRI, immunosuppresion