Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection that causes painful blisters and sores. The most common types of viruses causing Herpes infection are

Herpes zoster virus
It is a root cause for shingles and chickenpox.

Herpes simplex virus
This causes cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth and sores on the genitals. It is an infection that causes herpes. It can appear in various parts of the body mostly on the genitals or mouth. The herpes simplex virus is of two types:

• HSV-Type-1: It is also known as oral herpes. It can cause cold sores and fever blisters around the mouth and in the face.
• HSV-Type-2: It is basically responsible for genital herpes outbreaks. It is a sexually transmitted infection, which remains forever once infected by the virus.

Risk factors
Regardless of age, anybody can be infected by HSV. The risk is based completely on the exposure to the infection. When people participate in risky sexual behavior without the use of protection, such as condoms, they are found to be more at risk. The other risk factors for HSV-2 include having multiple sex partners, having sex at a younger age, having contact with another infected person who has sexually-transmitted herpes, having a weakened immune system, etc. An outbreak of genital herpes in pregnant women at the time of childbirth can expose the baby to both types of HSV leading to risk for severe and serious complications.

Symptoms of herpes
Many people never find symptoms having herpes. Sometimes the symptoms are not so severe, hence are mistaken by many of us for another skin condition. Herpes experiences symptoms which may include the painful sores in the genital area, buttocks, anus, or thighs, itching, discharge of blood through the vagina, painful urination, tender lumps in the groin, etc.

Eye redness, eye pain, increased sensitivity to light, tearing, severe headache, painful sore on the eyelid or eye surface, sensation in the eye, and a rash with blisters on the eyelids are few symptoms of the herpes eye diseases.

Herpes eye diseases
It is a group of eye disorders which results from the infection with the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Herpes eye disease can affect many different parts of the eye, including eyelids, cornea, and the layer that caps the front of the eye. It can also affect the conjunctiva, a layer covering the inside of the eyelids and the white part of the eye. The virus can also damage the retina, which lines the inner wall in the back part of your eye. It rarely affects the sclera or the iris; this is a major reason for blindness worldwide. Herpes Simplex Virus is common and mostly affects the adults and a slightly smaller percentage of children. This includes irregular cold sores around the mouth. If the virus aggravates and multiplies to become more active, symptoms like eye redness, tearing, and even vision loss can occur.

Causes
The infection with HSV type 1 causes herpes eye disease. HSV type 2 very rarely causes symptoms of the eye but causes genital herpes infections. Variations in genes may also play a vital role. This can be passed from parents to children in the form of DNA. It might create a problem with the immune system which might increase your risk of getting herpes eye disease too.