Ophthalmic shingles may or may not involve the eye. Eye involvement is more common if there are vesicles on the tip of the nose (Hutchinson’s sign). There is also commonly swelling around the eye and forehead. Patients with no eye involvement at presentation should be commenced on oral aciclovir 800mg 5 times daily for 1 week and advised to see their GP/optician if their eye becomes red or painful who will refer them to ophthalmology. If eye involvement does occur it can affect different structures e.g. the cornea, anterior chamber and retina. Iritis following HZV can occur and will require steroid drops. In other cases lubricants may be all that is required from irritation caused by lid vesicles.
Who to refer:
Please see Lothian GP and optometry ophthalmology referral pathway.
Urgency of the condition for details on how soon patients should receive an appointment.
Patients who present with a problem with their only seeing eye should be advised to see an optician/ophthalmologist for review.
How to refer:
We require a referral letter for EVERY patient.
The preferred referral process is via SCI Gateway. If sending/forwarding a referral via SCI gateway please include past medical history, allergies and medications
If you do not have access to fax or SCI Gateway e.g. if you have arranged an appointment out of hours please send a written referral letter with the patient to bring to their appointment.
Only if SCI Gateway is unavailable should a letter be typed or handwritten. Please write legibly and include your examination findings.
If you have arranged an appointment in the acute referral clinic and you are referring from within another hospital in Lothian please use TRAK to type the referral letter.
