Bilateral In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Changes of the Corneal Subbasal Nerve Plexus in Patients with Acute Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

Unilateral HZO in patients without apparent keratitis leads to bilateral subbasal nerve plexus alteration in the early days after disease onset, especially in those with a positive Hutchinson sign. Early follow-up of patients with HZO and bilateral application of preservative-free artificial tears during the initial months of symptom onset may help reduce the risk of developing neurotrophic keratopathy (NTK).