Herpesvirus infection causes significant ocular disease in cats, ranging from mild conjunctivitis to severe corneal ulceration requiring long-term management.
Ocular herpesvirus disease causes chronic eye discomfort — conjunctivitis is irritating, corneal ulcers are painful, and corneal sequestrum (a dark plaque of dead corneal tissue) causes chronic discomfort requiring surgical removal. Cats with chronic ocular disease may show reluctance to open eyes in bright light, reducing their quality of life. Long-term welfare management includes stress reduction, antiviral treatment during flares, and surgical intervention where sequestrum develops.