[Progressive outer retinal necrosis caused by varicella zoster virus]

Ophthalmic herpes zoster is the second most common form of herpes zoster and can lead to complete vision loss. Since necrotizing herpetic retinopathies are relatively rare and often reported as isolated clinical cases, establishing a unified approach to managing such patients is challenging. The aim of this study was to summarize current knowledge on the etiopathogenesis, diagnostic features, and treatment of progressive outer retinal necrosis. A total of 30 articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2011 and 2019 and accessible through the EBSCO database were analyzed. The search employed relevant keywords and abbreviations: varicella zoster virus (VZV), herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), necrotizing herpetic retinopathies (NHRs), and progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN). The results of this analysis present the current understanding of the prevalence, clinical features, and management strategies for progressive outer retinal necrosis caused by VZV.