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• A reproducible model of severe herpetic interstitial keratitis was developed by injecting live herpes simplex virus type 2 intrastromally into the corneas of presensitized rabbits. Herpes-infected corneas showed significantly more stromal infiltration and vascularization, iritis, conjunctivitis, and epithelial disease than the control corneas injected with cell supernatant without virus. Levels of total collagenase detected in the culture media of the herpes-infected corneas were high and were similar to those observed previously in alkali-burned rabbit corneas. Unlike alkali-burned corneas, the herpes-infected corneas showed much more of the enzyme in the latent form during the first two days of culture.

• The present, masked, controlled study compares the therapeutic efficacy of guttate 3% vidarabine, 0.1% idoxuridine, and 1% trifluridine in herpes simplex keratouveitis in rabbits. Vidarabine, whether given every hour, every two hours, or every three hours was significantly better than controls but significantly worse than idoxuridine or trifluridine. Trifluridine and idoxuridine were not significantly different from each other. Viral cultures taken at the end of the six-day treatment period were positive in the majority of all treatment groups except for the trifluridine group, which was 100% negative. Although previous studies have shown that vidarabine is very effective as an antiviral ointment, vidarabine drops are not as effective as guttate idoxuridine or trifluridine.