Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Eye Infections

What is herpes zoster?

Herpes zoster is also called shingles. Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. This virus is called varicella zoster. You cannot have shingles unless you already had chickenpox (usually as a child).

Shingles is most common in people over 50 years old.

Shingles causes painful blisters on the skin, often along major nerves. It may affect the eyes. Sometimes you can have nerve pain that lasts for a long time after the blisters go away.

What are herpes zoster eye infections?

The virus can cause several eye problems, including:

• blisters on or inside your eyelids
• damage to your cornea (the clear outer layer on the front of the eye)
• scleritis (swelling of the white part of the eye)
• uveitis (swelling of the iris, ciliary body, or the back part of the eye)
• glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve usually caused by high pressure inside the eye)
• cataracts
• retinitis (inflammation of the retina in the back of the eye)

How do they occur?

If you have had chickenpox, you are at risk for later developing shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the chickenpox virus stays in your body. It moves to the roots of your nerve cells (near the spinal cord) and becomes inactive (dormant). The virus can become active again if your body's immune system is weakened by:

• aging
• diseases such as AIDS or Hodgkin's disease
• physical or emotional stress
• fatigue
• poor nutrition
• chemotherapy or radiation, including sun exposure
• certain medicines, such as steroids

Sometimes problems from herpes zoster happen for no known reason.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of herpes zoster eye infections include:

• blisters on the forehead, eyelids, or the nose with redness around the blisters
• swollen eyelids
• eye pain
• watery eyes
• red eyes
• sensitivity to light
• blurred vision

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and symptoms. Your provider will also examine your skin and eyes. The blisters usually occur in a certain pattern near affected nerves. Fluid from the blisters may be tested in a lab to see if the virus is present. A dye may be put on the surface of your eye to make it easier to see the blister.

How is it treated?

Several medicines are helpful in treating herpes zoster eye infections.

• Antiviral medicine is most effective when started as soon as the first symptoms appear.
• Steroids may be used to reduce eye inflammation (after you have taken antiviral medicine).
• Antibiotic ointments prevent infection from bacteria that may get in your eyes while you have herpes zoster.
• Painkillers (such as acetaminophen) and lubricating eyedrops may lessen your pain.
• Medicines for glaucoma help keep the pressure in your eye at normal levels.

How long will the effects last?

The blisters will heal in 1 to 3 weeks and the pain or irritation will usually go away in 3 to 5 weeks. If the virus damages a nerve, you may have pain, numbness, or tingling for months or even years after the rash is healed. This is called postherpetic neuralgia. If your cornea is affected, it can become permanently scarred. Early treatment with antiviral medicine can lessen pain and help heal blisters.

Numbness of the cornea and inflammation inside the eye can sometimes cause long-term eye problems that require careful follow up.

Are herpes zoster eye infections contagious?

A person with shingles can transmit chickenpox to a person who has never been exposed to the varicella-zoster virus. The virus is spread by contact with the blisters. You are no longer contagious after the blisters dry up and form scabs.

What can I do to help prevent herpes zoster eye infections?

All children now get shots to prevent infection with the chickenpox virus. If you have never had chickenpox, you can get a shot to help prevent infection with the virus. A vaccine, called Zostavax, is now available for people 60 years of age and older. The vaccine can help prevent or lessen the symptoms of shingles. It cannot be used to treat shingles once you have it.

If you have not been vaccinated and have never had chickenpox, you should avoid contact with people who may have an active chickenpox infection. If you are pregnant, you should not be around someone with chickenpox or shingles.

Sometimes attacks of shingles happen for no apparent reason and cannot be prevented. Early diagnosis and treatment can help greatly in reducing serious complications from herpes zoster eye infections.