The cause of this pathology is the reactivation of the infection: if it remains latent (ie "dormant") along the terminations of the cranial nerves, the varicella-zoster virus can recur, on certain occasions, also involving the eyeball.
Ophthalmic herpes zoster manifests itself with the appearance of an erythema and involves the presentation of vesicles gathered in "clusters". The rash affects a limited area of the eyelids, ie that of the nerve in which the virus had remained latent. Characteristic is the pain, which begins as a tingling, then becomes burning and difficult to bear. Later, the infection can spread to the conjunctiva and cornea.
With adequate treatment, the symptoms of ophthalmic herpes zoster usually resolve within a few weeks. It should be noted, however, that antiviral drugs and ointments do not eliminate the virus, but help to make it return to a state of latency.
, characterized by the presence of numerous vesicles.If it remains latent along the endings of the cranial nerves, the varicella-zoster virus can recur, on certain occasions, also involving the eyeball.
) it is possible the appearance of lesions to the eye, in about 50-70% of cases. In some cases, when the first vesicles appear along the distribution territory of the first trigeminal branch, there is simultaneous presentation of ocular lesions .
