A Clinical Study of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

Abstract

Background: Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus(HZO) occurs from the reactivation of latent Varicella Zoster virus within the ophthalmic division of the Trigeminal nerve. Ophthalmic involvement has been considered the most important and potentially serious of all sites of Herpes Zoster. Objectives: 1.To study the modes of presentation and ocular manifestations of HZO. 2.To study the predisposing factors for the development of HZO. 3.To study the ocular complications of HZO after treatment with oral Acyclovir during a follow-up period of one year. Materials and Methods: This prospective clinical study was conducted with all patients who were clinically diagnosed to have HZO who attended the Outpatient Department of Ophthalmology. All the patients underwent a comprehensive ocular examination and were medically treated and followed up for one year. Results: 27 patients with HZO were studied. Advancing age was the most common predisposing factor. Acute neuralgia and skin lesions were the most common modes of presentation. Ocular involvement was seen in 16(59.25%) of the patients with HZO. Cornea was the most common ocular structure involved(62.5%). Conclusion: The potential ocular manifestations of HZO are numerous. Ocular complications were less frequent among patients who received prompt systemic antiviral therapy with oral Acyclovir started within 72 hours of skin rash. Among treated patients development of a serious inflammatory complication was associated with a delay in therapy.