Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and limbal ischemia in a patient with history of ocular graft-versus-host disease

Abstract

Purpose: To report a rare complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). Methods: A 27-year-old man with a history of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) presented with pain and redness in his left eye along with vesicular eruptions on the same side of the forehead from 40 days earlier. Results: In this case report, we present a case of HZO with severe limbal ischemia in a patient with ocular GVHD. The patient was administered with intensive topical preservative-free lubrication, topical preservative-free antibiotics, topical autologous serum 20%, topical non-preservative steroid (methylprednisolone 1%), and oral valacyclovir 1 g twice daily. The patient underwent amniotic membrane patch surgery on bulbar conjunctiva and cornea, lateral tarsorrhaphy, and punctal occlusion for the left eye. Conclusion: In this report, severe and extensive limbal ischemia caused by herpes zoster virus in an immunocompromised patient is reported.