Abstract
Anterior uveitis and keratitis frequently occur in patients with herpes zoster opthalmicus. Three cases of herpes zoster opthalmicus with eye complications are reported. A 77-year-old man with chronic renal failure was treated with vidarabine and stellate ganglion block from the 2nd day after the occurrence of skin eruption. On the eighth day after the onset, corneal ulceration and uveitis developed. A 55-year-old woman without underlying disease was treated with acyclovir and stellate ganglion block from the 2nd day after the start of local pain and skin eruption. On the eighth day after the onset, corneal edema and uveitis were noted. A 68-year-old man without concurrent disease received acyclovir and stellate ganglion block since the 10th day after the start of local pain and skin eruption. On the 15th day after the onset, superficial corneal inflammation and uveitis with precipitation developed and worsened during the following five days. The eye complications in the first and the second cases improved after anti-viral and anti-bacterial treatments. In the third case, ocular symptoms did not worsen. Careful observation of the eye is important in patients with herpes zoster involving the first branch of the trigeminal nerve.
