A 35-year-old otherwise healthy man presented with a 1-week history of blurred vision in his RE. Medical history revealed mild chickenpox 3 weeks prior to his presentation, which resolved without complications. On ophthalmic examination, BCVA was 20/40 in the RE and 20/20 in the LE. There was no afferent pupillary defect. The intraocular pressure was 16 mmHg in both eyes. Minimal conjunctival hyperemia was present, and there were a few anterior chamber cells and 3+ vitreous cells and haze in the RE. Funduscopy revealed whitish retinal infiltration affecting the far periphery of the retina in one quadrant. Clinical examination results of the LE were normal.\nA diagnosis of ARN syndrome secondary to chickenpox infection was made, and the patient was treated with intravenous acyclovir (10 mg/kg, three times a day). Seven days later, there was no improvement in the RE, and the patient was given intravitreal ganciclovir (2 mg). After a 10-day course of intravenous acyclovir, the patient received valacyclovir (1000 mg, three times daily). Seven days after initiation of oral antiviral therapy, he received oral prednisone (0.5 mg/kg/day for 1 week, followed by gradual tapering over 8 weeks). Systemic corticosteroids were prescribed because of significant vitritis. BCVA of the RE improved to 20/20, with gradual resolution of vitreous inflammatory reaction. The peripheral retinal lesion healed with a residual chorioretinal scar. No fellow eye involvement or recurrence of ARN was observed after an 18-month period of follow-up.
A 40-year-old otherwise healthy woman noticed pain, redness, watering, photophobia, and decreased vision in both eyes one week after the onset of severe chickenpox. On examination, BCVA was counting fingers in the RE and 20/200 in the LE. Slit-lamp examination showed perilimbal injection and a geographic corneal epithelial defect associated with diffuse stromal edema in both eyes (Fig. ). The anterior chamber was deep and quiet, and there were no vitritis or abnormal fundus findings.\nA diagnosis of varicella keratitis was made. The patient was treated with systemic acyclovir (30 mg/kg/day). Oral steroids (0.5 mg/kg/day) were added 6 days after antiviral treatment, because of the severe associated stromal edema. The corneal defect resolved slowly within 2 weeks, and the medication was discontinued.\nThree months later, the patient presented with complaints of decreased vision and eye pain bilaterally. On examination, BCVA was 20/35 in both eyes. Slit-lamp examination showed perilimbal injection, many small raised dendriform lesions, and marginal infiltrates in the cornea of both eyes. A diagnosis of recurrent varicella keratitis was made, and the patient was once again treated with systemic acyclovir (30 mg/kg/day) and oral steroids (0.5 mg/kg/day) 4 days later. Corneal lesions resolved within 2 weeks with residual peripheral corneal scars (Fig. ), and visual acuity improved to 20/25 in both eyes. No recurrence of keratitis was observed after 18 months of follow-up.