Unilateral Acute Retinal Necrosis with Contralateral Non-necrotizing Herpetic Uveitis

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2024 Apr;32(3):351-354. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1860232. Epub 2024 Feb 8.

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study is to report a case of unilateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN) with contralateral eye presenting as non-necrotizing herpetic uveitis.

Case reports: Case 1: A 48-year-old female presented at our clinic with blurred vision in the right eye for 7 days. She was diagnosed with ARN in the left eye 2 weeks ago. Ophthalmic examination revealed reduced visual acuity in the right eye (20/33) with the presence of optic disc swelling and macular exudation without peripheral necrotic lesions. With systemic antiviral therapy, optic disc swelling of the right eye vanished gradually, and the visual acuity improved to 20/20. Loss of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and decreased retinal thickness in the corresponding area occurred during follow-up.

Conclusion: Non-necrotizing herpetic uveitis may occur in the contralateral eye of unilateral ARN under rare conditions. Structure abnormities, including loss of RNFL and focal decreased retinal thickness, are irretrievable.

Keywords: Acute retinal necrosis; herpetic virus; non-necrotizing uveitis; optic disc; vasculitis; viral uveitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Herpes Simplex* / complications
  • Herpes Simplex* / diagnosis
  • Herpes Simplex* / drug therapy
  • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus* / complications
  • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus* / diagnosis
  • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Retina
  • Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute* / diagnosis
  • Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute* / drug therapy
  • Uveitis* / complications
  • Uveitis* / diagnosis
  • Uveitis* / drug therapy