Posterior Herpetic Uveitis: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Purpose: To report and illustrate the main clinical presentations of posterior herpetic uveitis.

Methods: Narrative review.

Results: The ocular manifestations of posterior herpetic uveitis include different clinical presentations. Herpes simplex and varicella zoster can cause acute retinal necrosis, progressive outer retinal necrosis, and non-necrotizing herpetic retinopathies. Cytomegalovirus has been associated with fulminant retinitis with confluent areas of retinal necrosis and retinal hemorrhages, indolent/granular retinitis, and frosted branch angiitis. These diverse clinical presentations are often associated with specific risk factors and different immunological profiles of the host.

Conclusions: Herpetic viruses can cause posterior uveitis, presenting various clinical findings. Specific ocular manifestations and the immunological status of the host can help to differentiate the various herpetic entities before laboratory tests confirm the diagnosis.

Keywords: Acute retinal necrosis; chronic retinal necrosis; herpes; posterior uveitis; retinitis.