Herpes zoster ophthalmicus: clinicodemographic characteristics and outcomes of 64 Egyptian patients

Background Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) accounts for 10-20% of all patients with herpes zoster. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate demographic features, clinical presentations, and outcomes of HZO patients. Patients and methods In a prospective cross-sectional clinical study, it included 64 patients with clinically evident HZO. All patients underwent a detailed medical history and complete dermatological and ophthalmological examinations. Results This study included 64 patients with HZO; 41 (64.1%) were females and 23 (35.9%) were males. Of female patients with HZO, 30 (73.2%) were married, 20 (48.7%) were urban, 35 (85.4%) were housewives, 17 (41.4%) had medium socioeconomic levels, 41 (100%) were nonsmokers, 13 (31.70%) had diabetes mellitus, six (14.63%) had hypertension, 30 (73.2%) had eruption on the left side, 11 (26.8%) had conjunctivitis and lid edema, 13 (31.7%) had postherpetic neuralgia, 29 (70.7%) had posttreatment scars, and six (14.6%) had a reduced visual outcome. Of male patients with HZO, 20 (87%) were married, 12 (52.2%) were suburban, seven (30.4%) were worker, 14 (60.9%) had low socioeconomic levels, 15 (65.2%) were smokers, eight (34.8%) had diabetes mellitus, one (4.3%) had hypertension, 18 (78.3%) had eruption on the left side, nine (39.16%) had conjunctivitis and lid edema, seven (30.4%) had postherpetic neuralgia, 10 (43.5%) had post-HZO cutaneous scarring, and four (17.4%) had a reduced visual outcome. Limitations The sample size of this study was small. Conclusion This study concluded that HZO is a common and potentially ruinous disease that may show a significant ophthalmic morbidity if not adequately diagnosed and treated.