Increased Risk of Corneal Ulcers in Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Patients, suggests study

Key Findings

• Out of the 44,317 HZO patients, 1,374 had developed corneal ulcers versus 938 in the control population.

• The rate of corneal ulcers in the HZO group was 4.59 times greater than in the control group (95% CI = 4.23–4.99; p < 0.0001).

• After controlling for confounders like diabetes, trait of atopy, chronic renal disease, eye allergies, HIV, and contact lens wearers, patients with HZO had 4.53 times greater chances of developing corneal ulcers (adjusted HR = 4.53; 95% CI = 4.17–4.93; p < 0.05).

The research proved that HZO considerably escalates the risk of corneal ulceration. The increased rate of corneal ulcers in HZO patients can be attributed to exposure keratopathy, which compromises the ocular surface barrier, rendering the eye vulnerable to infection. The correlation between HZO and risk of corneal ulcer remained significant even when controlling for multiple confounders, highlighting the importance of proper monitoring of the patients.

This study authors reaffirm that patients with HZO are significantly at risk of the occurrence of corneal ulcers. Health care providers need to counsel patients with HZO regarding this risk and promote early identification and treatment of any ocular complications.

Reference:

Weng, S.-F., Chang, Y.-S., Wang, J.-J., Jan, H.-Y., Chen, J.-Y., Tseng, S.-H., & Jan, R.-L. (2025). Association between herpes zoster ophthalmicus and the risk of corneal ulcer. Frontiers in Medicine, 12.https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1529908