Cat has FHV-1, vet gave extremely vague advice, need to decide what to do

• Species: Cat
• Age: 2-3
• Sex/Neuter status: M/Yes
• Body weight: ~4.8kg
• Your general location: New Zealand

My cat was in ostensibly perfect health until February of this year, once he was already 2 years old. At that point he got an eye infection; booked in to see the vet but had to wait a couple days (was in frequent communication with emergency vet to ensure that it was ok to wait based on symptoms).

Prior to seeing the vet, the symptom pattern was: noticed eye is wet > couple hours later squinting > couple hours later redness and some inflammation > over the next day red and irritated, cat clearly irritated also > the following day eye substantially better, cat acting 100% like himself again, but redness persists.

Went and saw the vet, prescribed antibiotic eye drops which worked well (eye back to normal after 2-3 more days, kept giving antibiotics for a further 2 days).

A few weeks ago same thing happened. Same eye, same progress of symptoms. Gave full course of same antibiotics and worked well again.

Now this latest weekend same thing again. Booked in to see vet again because of suspicion of underlying condition (Herpes based on what I read). Vet says she agrees it is very likely to be Herpes. Was told that it can't be definitively tested for. Vet advises to buy over the counter probiotics (and to reduce stress, though I have tried to optimise this cat's life as much as possible already so I'm not sure that I can reduce stress any further).

I asked about L-lysine (have since read that it may not be useful) and was told I can "get that too if I want". I don't want anything I am interested in reducing the likelihood of flareups. Told to keep using antibiotics when eye infection recurs. Was not suggested any antiviral medication, whether general or targeted eye drops. The bottom line was to just see what happens and if I can identify any pattern for when this eye infection recurs.

Based on what I've read it is hard to expect probiotics to have meaningful impact on his flareups of eye infection. Having said that, what I've read could be wrong. I don't know if I should buy other over the counter supplements which are said to have some benefit in managing symptoms (again I was told to get what I want to, but I don't have enough information to make a meaningful decision). I've read that in cases of the same eye same process/symptoms anti-viral treatments can be warranted. Should I ask for these?

As far as I understand, this is a common condition and though specific symptoms can vary, the symptoms he is experiencing are not atypical, yet I am finding it really hard to understand what the typical way of managing it is. What do you guys, as vets, do in practice?

Thank you in advance for your help. Also I realise you cannot give definitive treatment for my cat's exact condition having not seen him. I just want general information; I am fully aware of the potential for variation in efficacy etc.