Case Report October 01, 2009 October 01, 2009

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and orbital apex syndrome: case report and literature review

DOI: 10.1590/S0034-72802009000500009

Herpes Zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is caused by a varicella-zoster virus infection which remains latent in the ganglion of Gasser until it is reactivated and compromise the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. HZO commonly causes neuro-ophthalmic complications such as vesicular lesions in the eyelids, keratoconjunctivitis, sclertis, uveitis, ocular palsy, orbital miositis and optic neuritis. HZO rarely presents as an orbital apex syndrome. This paper describes a patient with of orbital apex syndrome associate and meningitis caused by HZO which was treated with systemic steroids and acyclovir.