Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

Pain or tingling of the forehead may occur before any other symptoms (called a prodrome).

The skin of the forehead and sometimes the tip of the nose are covered with small, extremely painful, red blisters.

Infection of the eye causes ache, redness, light sensitivity, and eyelid swelling. The cornea (the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil) can get infected and inflamed. Months and years later, the cornea can become swollen, severely damaged, and scarred. The structures behind the cornea can become inflamed (uveitis Uveitis Uveitis is inflammation anywhere in the pigmented inside lining of the eye, known as the uvea or uveal tract. The uveal tract may become inflamed because of infection, injury, a bodywide autoimmune... read more ), the pressure in the eye can increase (glaucoma Glaucoma Glaucomas are a group of eye disorders characterized by progressive optic nerve damage (often, but not always, associated with increased eye pressure) that can lead to irreversible loss of vision... read more ), and the cornea can become numb, which leaves it vulnerable to injuries.

The appearance of active shingles Shingles Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by a viral infection that results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. What causes the virus to reactive... read more , a history of the typical rash, or old scars resulting from a previous shingles rash help a doctor make the diagnosis of shingles.

A recombinant shingles vaccine Shingles Vaccine The herpes zoster virus that causes shingles is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After chickenpox resolves, the virus remains in the body. It can be reactivated years later and cause shingles... read more is recommended for healthy people aged 50 or over, regardless of whether they have had chickenpox or shingles or been given the older herpes zoster vaccine. The recombinant vaccine is effective in more than 90% of people, whereas the older vaccine was effective in 50% of people.

As with shingles anywhere in the body, early treatment with an antiviral drug such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir (which are taken by mouth) can reduce the duration of the painful rash. When herpes zoster infects the face and threatens the eye, treatment with an antiviral drug reduces the risk of eye complications.

Corticosteroids, usually in eye drops, may also be needed if the eye is inflamed.

Eye drops, such as cyclopentolate or atropine, are used to keep the pupil dilated, to help prevent a severe form of glaucoma, and to relieve pain.