Infections of the Posterior Segment: Acute Retinal Necrosis

  • Hani S. Al-Mezaine
  • Marwan Abouammoh
  • Ahmed M. Abu El-Asrar
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Essentials in Ophthalmology book series (ESSENTIALS)

Abstract

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a rare, but potentially a blinding, disease caused by the herpes virus family including herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus. ARN most commonly occurs in otherwise healthy immunocompetent persons of either gender at any age. Typically, the necrotizing retinitis starts in the periphery and spread toward the posterior pole, associated with vitreous opacities and, in some cases, involving the optic disk. Polymerase chain reaction is helpful in diagnosing ARN. Retinal detachment can complicate ARN in 50–75 % of cases. Early intravenous with or without intravitreal antiviral therapy is mandatory to limit ARN progression. Vitreoretinal surgery with silicon oil tamponade is often required for cases of retinal detachment associated with ARN.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hani S. Al-Mezaine
    • 1
  • Marwan Abouammoh
    • 1
  • Ahmed M. Abu El-Asrar
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of OphthalmologyCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, KAUHRiyadhSaudi Arabia

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