Juwan, a two-year-old boy, lost sight in his left eye after being kissed by someone with what appeared to be a cold sore.

What seemed like a minor eye infection quickly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare for little Juwan. In August 2024, when he was 16 months old, the Namibian toddler developed redness and irritation in his left eye. His parents initially treated it as a common infection with antibiotic drops, but the condition rapidly worsened.

Doctors later discovered he had contracted the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) in his eye—the same virus that causes cold sores. Because both parents tested negative for the virus, medical experts concluded it was most likely passed on through a kiss from someone with an active cold sore on or near the mouth, either directly around the eye or via his hand after contact.

The virus irreversibly damaged the cornea, destroying sensation in the eye and causing extreme dryness. A 4-millimeter hole formed in the cornea, putting the total loss of his eye at serious risk. Juwan became completely blind in the affected eye as his brain stopped recognizing signals from it.

To protect the eye and attempt to heal the damage, the family traveled to specialists in Cape Town. Juwan underwent amniotic membrane graft surgery, and his eyelids were temporarily stitched closed. Further complex procedures are planned, including transplanting nerves from his leg into the eye in the hope of restoring some connection, which could later make a corneal transplant possible.

His mother, Michelle Saaiman, has shared the family’s ordeal publicly to raise awareness. She urges people never to kiss babies or young children, especially when they have any sign of a cold sore, emphasizing that what seems like an innocent gesture can have lifelong consequences.

Juwan’s case highlights the risks of herpes simplex virus transmission to infants and the potential for severe ocular complications, including permanent vision loss.

Sources

• Metro News and The Sun reports (March 2025) on Juwan Saaiman’s diagnosis and treatment
• Statements from mother Michelle Saaiman shared via family posts and interviews
• Medical context on herpes simplex keratitis from health authorities and ophthalmology sources