herpes zoster ophthalmicus

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her·pes zos'ter oph·thal·'mi·cus

a herpetic involvement of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve, which may lead to corneal ulceration.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

her·pes zoster oph·thal·mi·cus

(hĕr'pēz zos'tĕr of-thal'mi-kŭs)

A herpetic involvement of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve, which may lead to corneal ulceration.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

herpes zoster ophthalmicus

An inflammation of that portion of the gasserian ganglion receiving fibres from the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, due to an infection by a latent varicella-zoster virus identical to that causing chickenpox. The disease that occurs most commonly in people over 50 years of age begins with a severe, unilateral, disabling neuralgia in the region of distribution of the nerve. It is followed by a vesicular eruption of the epithelium of the forehead, the nose, eyelids and sometimes the cornea. The vesicles rupture leaving haemorrhagic areas that heal in several weeks. Pain usually disappears in about two weeks but in a few cases neuralgia persists for a long time. Ocular complications occur in approximately 50% of all cases of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Corneal involvement appears as acute epithelial keratitis, which is characterized by small fine dendritic or stellate lesions in the peripheral cornea in association with a conjunctivitis. This keratitis usually resolves within a week. As the disease progresses it may give rise to mucous plaque keratitis, which occurs usually between the third and the sixth month after the onset of the rash. It is characterized by the plaque lines on the surface of the cornea, which can be easily lifted, and stromal haze. Iridocyclitis also accompanies this keratitis in approximately 50% of cases.

Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. © 2009 Butterworth-Heinemann