acyclovir and Eye-Hemorrhage

Scleromalacia usually appears following vasculitis in systemic rheumatoid diseases, especially as a late symptom of rheumatoid arthritis.. A 67-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for further evaluation with the diagnosis of a "fast-growing tumor" of the left eye. Sixteen months ago she had suffered from herpes zoster ophthalmicus-associated keratouveitis and trabeculitis in the same eye. Scleromalacia associated with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was diagnosed after the biomicroscopic and gonioscopic examination of the eye was completed and a systemic disease had been ruled out. One week after beginning systemic application of acyclovir (5 x 800 mg daily) and prednisolone (30 mg daily), the anterior chamber inflammation regressed and a fibrosis seemed to appear in the atrophic scleral area.. Although scleral atrophy mostly appears as a late sign of systemic rheumatoid diseases, it might also develop secondary to infectious diseases. Scleromalacia associated with varicella-zoster virus has been previously described only in a few cases. Scleromalacia is a vision-threatening complication of zoster ophthalmicus which responds well to combination therapy with systemic antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antiviral Agents; Atrophy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eye Hemorrhage; Female; Fibrosis; Fundus Oculi; Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus; Humans; Long-Term Care; Ophthalmoscopy; Prednisolone; Recurrence; Sclera; Scleral Diseases; Uveitis, Anterior