Features

Necrotising herpetic retinopathies

Disease
The necrotising herpetic retinopathies constitute a spectrum of conditions involving acute, rapidly progressive retinal necrosis, often resulting in retinal detachment.

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Symptoms

Early cases confined to the peripheral retina are often asymptomatic. With disease progression, patients may experience floaters, decreased peripheral vision, blurred vision and ocular pain. The patient may recall previous episodes of chicken pox, shingles or cold sores. Other relevant considerations include general health, immunosuppressive medications and risk factors for HIV infection.

Signs and classification

1) Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) denotes the presence of the following features:

? Patches of peripheral retinal oedema and necrosis which spread circumferentially and posteriorly

? Inflammation and occlusion of retinal and choroidal vessels, with pale sheathing of retinal vessels

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