DETECTION OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS-DNA IN OCULAR SAMPLES FROM PATIENTS WITH UVEITIS BUT NO CUTANEOUS ERUPTION

Herpes tester ophthalmicus is a well-recognised cause of intraocular i nflammation, which may become recurrent or chronic after the acute pha se has elapsed. Although it commonly presents with the typical rash, c ases of ocular tester with no cutaneous eruption have been well docume nted. We present two patients with unilateral anterior uveitis complic ated by cataract, in whom molecular techniques based on the polymerase chain reaction detected varicella-zoster virus DNA in intraocular mat erial obtained during cataract surgery. Neither patient gave a history of cutaneous eruption.