Acute retinal necrosis following contralateral herpes zoster ophthalmicus

Background: A case report of contralateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN) fol lowing herpes zoster ophthahmicus. Case: A 61-year-old male patient developed iridocyclitis and well-demarcate d creamy-white retinal lesions at the nasal periphery in the right eye 1 mo nth after herpes tester ophthalmicus in the left eye. The patient had under gone surgery for primary lung cancer, and had subsequent intracranial metas tasis of the tumor. Observations: The clinical diagnosis of ARN was supported by polymerase cha in reaction investigation of the aqueous humor resulting in positive for va ricella-zoster virus. Retinal lesions disappeared after systemic treatment with acyclovir, corticosteroids, and acetylsalicylate. No retinal detachmen t developed. Conclusions: We propose a careful ophthalmic follow-up for herpes tester op hthalmicus patients because of the possibility of acute retinal necrosis de veloping in the contralateral eye. (C) 2000 Japanese Ophthalmological Socie ty.