Ocular Findings in Japanese Patients with Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection

Vol. 219, No. 5, 2005

Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 78 KB)

Original Paper

Ocular Findings in Japanese Patients with Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection
Machi Yoshida, Seiji Hayasaka, Tetsuya Yamada, Shuichiro Yanagisawa, Yoriko Hayasaka, Nobuo Nakamura, Miharu Mihara

Department of Ophthalmology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2005;219:272-275 (DOI: 10.1159/000086110)

Key Words

Acute retinal necrosis
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus
Ocular findings
Varicella-zoster virus

Abstract

Purpose: To examine ocular findings in Japanese patients with varicella, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and acute retinal necrosis. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. Information on the ocular, cutaneous, systemic, and virologic findings on pediatric and adult patients was obtained from medical records. Results: A total of 77 (45 male and 32 female) patients were enrolled in the study: 4 children had varicella, 68 adults had herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and 5 adults had acute retinal necrosis. Children with varicella had eruptions on the eyelid. Patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus had eruptions, conjunctivitis, keratitis, iridocyclitis, and other findings. Patients with acute retinal necrosis had intracameral cells and retinal lesions. Some patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus had malignancy, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or other disease. One pregnant woman developed acute retinal necrosis shortly after varicella infection. A total of 48% of patients with negative Hutchinson sign had ocular lesions, while all patients with positive sign showed ocular lesions. Patients with varicella and herpes zoster ophthalmicus had good visual acuity at the last visit. Some patients with acute retinal necrosis had poor visual acuity at the last visit. Conclusions: Patients with varicella, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and acute retinal necrosis had several ocular complications. Some patients with acute retinal necrosis had poor visual outcomes. Ophthalmologists should be aware that acute retinal necrosis may develop shortly after varicella infection.

Author Contacts

Machi Yoshida, MD
Department of Ophthalmology
Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani
Toyama 930-0194 (Japan)
Tel. +81 76 434 7363, Fax +81 76 434 5037, E-Mail ophthal@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp

Article Information

Received: September 3, 2004
Accepted after revision: December 23, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 23

Medline Abstract (ID 16123552)

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