Can a simple eye exam reveal a dangerous virus This case of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus shows how

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]In this second part, we will continue with high-yield ophthalmology cases, focusing on infectious conditions, refractive errors, and age-related vision loss.

[00:00:10]Case three, an 89-year-old woman comes to the emergency department due to worsening eye pain.

[00:00:17]She developed a rash around the left eye yesterday, and this morning began experiencing left eye pain, redness, and decreased [music] vision.

[00:00:25]Physical examination shows scattered vesicles on the left side of the forehead, nose, and both upper and lower eyelids.

[00:00:34]Eye examination reveals conjunctival erythema, and fluorescein staining demonstrates linear branching ulceration of the cornea.

[00:00:43]The most likely pathogen responsible is varicella zoster virus.