- Belt in the eye, aka herpes zoster ophthalmicus, occurs in about 10% to 20% of all cases of hostages.
- It can result in complications such as corneal damage and blindness, so it is important to see your doctor immediately.
- You can prevent rashes in the eye by getting the Shingrix vaccine.
- This article was medically assessed by Benjamin Bert, MD, an ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
- Visit the Insider’s Health Reference library for more advice.
Shingles is a painful rash caused by a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is a very common condition because one in three will develop it throughout their life, often after the age of 50. Although the window of the shingles will most commonly appear on the torso, it is also possible that it affects your eyes.
Rings of the eye have its own name: herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). Recent research by the Kellogg Eye Center of the University of Michigan found that the incidence of HZO was third between 2004 and 2016. They also determine that HZO is most prevalent in those over 75 years of age.
Here is what you need to know about symptoms of eye rashes, such as complications and treatment.
Symptoms of reflexes in the eye
Shingles affects only one side of the body. This is because the varicella-zoster virus in your body lies dormant in nerve cells after you have babies. When the virus is reactivated, it affects a nerve that travels downwards, so that the window of the shingles will appear on the side of the affected nerve. So if you get it on your face, it will only affect the right side as well as the left side.
Belts on your face will not always affect your eyes, but there is certainly a possibility that it can. About 10-20% of all cases will appear on or around the eye. If you have worm hearts out of sight, says Randall McLaughlin, OD, associate professor of ophthalmology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, a painful rash and blisters may appear on:
- The forehead
- The eyelid
- The tip of your nose
You should be especially careful when the rash is on the tip of the nose, because McLaughlin says this is typically the telltale sign that the eye is affected. Additionally, you may notice changes in your normal vision, such as experiencing blurred vision.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you may also experience other wrinkle symptoms that may appear even before the rash surfaces such as:
- Fever
- Chills
- I generally do not feel well
- Itching
- Burning sensations
- Tingling sensations
- Sensitivity to light
If you think you have singles in your eye, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to prevent possible permanent damage.
Complications of rolls in the eye
While it may have complications from a regular infection of slings, your vision is at stake when your eye is involved. Dangerous complications of ray of the eye may include:
- Oy damage like scars from the cornea, McLaughlin says
- Blindness in severe cases
If you have girdle straps of the eyes, the corneal nerves become inflamed, and because this heals, it can lead to scarring, McLaughlin says. This can result in reduced sharpness of the vision, and cannot be corrected with glasses. In some cases, a corneal transplant may be necessary. Blindness, a complete loss of vision, is more of a rare complication. That is why it is so important to start treatment early to avoid these possible permanent problems.
McLaughlin says that complications vary on an individualized basis, and not everyone will experience them. The sooner you seek medical attention and begin treatment, the less likely you are to have complications.
A complication that can arise from any swine infection is post-herpetic neuralgia, which can leave you with long-lasting pain, numbness, and itching that persists for three months or longer after the infection goes away. Again, starting treatment will also reduce your risk of this complication.
Prevention
The best treatment is defense, so that the infection of poop does not happen in the first place. McLaughlin says that the hostage-taking vaccine can significantly reduce your risk of hostage-taking. He strongly recommends it for people older than 50 years. According to the CDC, the Shingrix vaccine is 97% effective in preventing convulsions in people aged 50 to 69 years, and 91% effective in people 70 and older.
You only need two doses of the Shingrix vaccine, and then you will need to set them all up. The CDC recommends it for people over 50, even if they have ever had shingles, if they have the older (and less effective) hostage vaccine, Zostavax, or if they are unsure if they had chickenpox when they were younger were or not.
The vaccine has been determined to be safe. Mild side effects such as injection site pain, headache, and fatigue can occur for two to three days.
Treatment of shit in the eye
However, if you end up with belt loops, McLaughlin says the most effective treatment is antiviral medication.
The sooner you can start it, the better. Antiviral medications are most effective when started within 72 hours. These meds will reduce the duration and severity of your infection, and reduce your risk of having those complications of eye damage, blindness, and post-herpetic neuralgia.
Common antiviral medications prescribed for handkerchiefs are:
- Acyclovir
- Valacyclovir
- Famciclovir
In addition, for eye shingles specifically, McLaughlin says that steroid eye drops may be prescribed to combat corneal inflammation. Despite the treatment plan, you should be closely monitored by your eye doctor to ensure that you are on the right path to feeling better and that you will recover from the infection without lasting complications.
