Herpes ophthalmicus (HZO) has the same nature as common HSV - an affection of ganglions and skin or/and eye globe surface. It can "sleep" inside the dorsal root or other ganglions for a long period of time, until it wakes up because of some illness, physical or emotional stress when the immune system is weak. Then it provokes typical zoster symptoms which you have definitely seen on the pictures of the encyclopedias. The special feature of HZO consists in the affection of the first division of trigeminal nerve. Statistics show that over a quarter of HZ-infected patients have ophthalmological kind of HSV.
Characteristics of HZO
After reactivation herpes moves along the ganglions of the organism. When zoster ophthalmicus reaches the endings of trigeminal nerve, it causes the damage of eye globe surface and skin around the eye and nose. Usually the whole process lasts near 1-2 weeks. Herpes zoster pictures
Early phase of disease is accompanied by bad feelings such as fatigue, malaise, fever, headache and so on. At first there are no very noticeable symptoms of HZO, but the general symptoms which are common for others disease, are present. Besides, patients in several days often have dermatomal pain, rash and blisters in area of eyes and nose. Naturally, in some cases it gains into problem with sight, which will be described below. You can also look for pictures of the zoster ophthalmicus - it has very specific features. Herpes zoster symptoms
In addition to herpes zoster skin problems, some complications with sight may appear. Patients who are ill with herpes ophthalmicus should remember that all of problems start with pain and rash of the skin and crown with such diseases as uveitis, scleral atrophy, conjunctivitis and so on. More than 40% of herpes ophthalmicus patients have uveitis, so it is a widely-distributed kind of zoster. Herpes zoster treatment
Firstly patient can feel pain like burning, tingling, developing of blisters and so on. These are the early symptoms and there are lots of pictures of those in the global network. This first alarm shows that it's high time to go to the doctor. If a HSV-ill person ignores such signals, there is a risk to have following problems that are hardly to treat. Besides uveitis there is a probability to have glaucoma (because of elevated pressures in the eye globe). And I think you all have seen glaucoma on pictures or in life - this disease has nothing good for person's body. In fact there can be much more diseases so the doctor's diagnosis is a must in every case.Herpes zoster vaccine
The most effective medicines against HZO are: acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, but they are good as preventive remedy on early stages of disease. Medicine to prevent HZO usually is brought inside through the vein or as eye drops. Also useful methods are traditional staying at bed, vitamins - to make immune system stronger.