Cluster of Symptomatic Graft-to-Host Transmission of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in an Endothelial Keratoplasty Setting

Data indicate cross-contamination of cornea grafts during DMEK preparation with subsequent graft-to-host HSV-1 transmission that caused atypical sight-threatening herpetic eye disease shortly after DMEK. Ophthalmologists should be aware that HSV-1 transmission by DMEK is possible and can lead to atypical ocular disease, a condition that can easily be prevented by taking appropriate technical and clinical measures at both eye bank and surgical levels.