The Current State of Vaccine Development for Ocular HSV-1 Infection

Herpes simplex virus type 1 continues to be the leading cause of infectious corneal blindness. Clinical trials for vaccines against genital HSV infection have been ongoing for more than three decades. Despite this, no approved vaccine exists, and no formal clinical trials have evaluated the impact of HSV vaccines on eye health. We review here the current state of development for an efficacious herpes simplex virus type 1 vaccine and call for involvement of ophthalmologists and vision researchers.