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Case Reports
. 2014 Apr;5(2):180-2.
doi: 10.4103/0976-3147.131673.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus associated with abducens palsy

Nibrass Chaker  1 , Mejda Bouladi  1 , Ahmed Chebil  1 , Mehdi Jemmeli  1 , Fatma Mghaieth  1 , Leila El Matri  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus associated with abducens palsy

Nibrass Chaker et al. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

The extraocular muscle palsies associated with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) are transient, self-limiting conditions, usually seen in elderly patients. There are different treatment recommendations for paralytic complications, but prognosis has generally reported to be favorable. A 75-year-old male patient presented with diplopia. Clinical history revealed left facial vesicular eruptions and pain treated by oral aciclovir 1 week following symptom onset. On examination, we observed cicatricial lesions with crusts involving left hemiface, a limitation in abduction of the left eye, and a superficial punctuate keratitis (SPK) with decreased visual acuity (4/10). Examination of the right eye was unremarkable. Hess screen test confirmed left six nerve palsy.

Keywords: Abducens nerve; Herpes zoster ophthalmicus; external ophthalmoplegia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cicatricial lesions on the left hemiface and limited abduction
Figure 2
Figure 2
Severely limited abduction on the Hess chart
Figure 3
Figure 3
Clinical improvement of the abducens nerve palsy
Figure 4
Figure 4
Improvement of the abducens nerve palsy on the Hess chart
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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