Factors associated with progression and outcome of acute retinal necrosis

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a fulminant, sight-threatening disease caused by varicella-zoster virus or herpes simplex viruses. ARN is a granulomatous uveitis characterized by yellow-white lesions in the peripheral retina, which rapidly expand circumferentially. Retinal arteritis, hyperemia of the optic disc and inflammatory vitreous opacities are also the important signs of ARN. Visual outcome of ARN is generally poor mostly due to the progression of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment or optic atrophy. Therefore, preventing retinal detachment or optic atrophy is the key issue to improve the prognosis of this disease. Various factors, such as the extent of retinal lesions at the initial presentation, may affect the progression and prognosis of ARN.