[Acute necrotizing retinitis following varicella zoster virus infection]

As far as we know today, acute retinal necrosis is caused by infection with a virus of the herpes group. Reports are occasionally published of retinitis developing before or after herpes zoster dermatitis. The present paper reports the case of a patient who developed a retinitis of the right eye five years after a herpes zoster infection of the ophthalmic nerve. Studies and treatment of VZV retinitis and retinitis before or after zoster retinitis reported in the literature are summarized. The possible mechanisms of generalization (neurogenic or hematogenous) are analyzed.