What is shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection that affects many parts of the body and usually causes a painful rash.
What are the signs and symptoms of shingles?
Shingles usually causes a skin rash on one side of the body. This outbreak is more painful and itchy than that of chickenpox. The face, eyelids, scalp, tip of the nose, ears, back and abdomen are commonly affected.
Shingles has several stages:
- Before the rash begins, there is usually a stage of fatigue, fever, chills and pain.
- The skin rash starts as a small cluster of bumps
- The skin rash presents as small fluid-filled blisters that take around five days to break open and up to four weeks to heal.
How does shingles affect the eyes?
The symptoms of a shingles infection in the eye can mimic those of many other eye conditions. The eye can be red, inflamed, blurred or feel irritated. If you are experiencing these symptoms, or have been previously diagnosed with shingles on your face, it’s important to visit your doctor of optometry.
Corneal ulcers may develop during a shingles infection that could potentially lead to scars that can cause permanent vision loss. If your family physician suspects you suffer from shingles, it is imperative to seek the care of your local doctor of optometry to rule out any eye involvement.
How do you treat shingles?
Shingles is typically treated with oral medications that fight viruses. Getting treatment as soon as possible reduces the risk of complications. Topical creams can also be used to help reduce the discomfort from the skin rash.
If the eye is affected, anti-inflammatory drops may also be used.
Shingles can reoccur again in the future, so it’s important to be aware of the symptoms and see your doctor of optometry if you have concerns.