Necrotizing Blepharoconjunctivitis and Keratitis in Human Monkeypox

Ophthalmic manifestations occur in less than 5% of patients with human mpox (monkeypox), most commonly presenting with self-limiting conjunctivitis and keratitis. Cases with severe ophthalmic complication are uncommon.

To present a case of human mpox with sight-threatening necrotizing blepharoconjunctivitis.

This is a report of a patient who developed necrotizing conjunctivitis due to the monkepox virus at a large university hospital. Data were collected from July to October 2022.

Description of the progression and clinical evaluation of the ocular condition and the management.

A 63-year-old HIV-positive man presented initially with conjunctivitis and eyelid swelling and developed skin lesions from monkeypox virus 2 days later. Despite remaining stable systemically, after 4 days, his ophthalmic condition evolved to necrotizing blepharoconjunctivitis for which systemic antiviral treatment with tecovirimat was given along with topical trifluoridine, 1%, eye drops. In addition, he required repeated tissue debridement with amniotic membrane grafting to preserve the eye integrity.

The severity of this observation was associated with a coexisting immunocompromised state and appeared similar to findings associated with other orthopoxviruses. Ophthalmic manifestations could be the initial presentation of human mpox and could also be severe. Early recognition and intervention may limit the likelihood of substantial ocular morbidity.