TWO CASES OF ACUTE RETINAL NECROSIS DUE TO VARICELLA ZOSTER DESPITE PRIOR SHINGLES VACCINATION.

Abstract

PURPOSE\nTo review two cases of acute retinal necrosis in adults due to varicella zoster virus despite prior shingles vaccination.\n\n\nMETHODS\nRetrospective chart review.\n\n\nPATIENTS\nA 62-year-old man and a 64-year-old man with unilateral acute retinal necrosis who had shingles vaccinations 16 and 7 months before their ocular symptoms.\n\n\nRESULTS\nPolymerase chain reaction confirmation of varicella zoster virus in the anterior chambers of both patients. Both patients had good responses to oral antiviral therapy and topical and/or oral steroids.\n\n\nDISCUSSION\nThese two cases demonstrate that singles vaccination is not an absolute protection against varicella zoster virus-related acute retinal necrosis. However, such vaccination may reduce the severity of the acute retinal necrosis.