Yoeruek E, Deuter C M E, Szurman P, Tatar O, Zierhut M
Abteilung I, Universitätsaugenklinik der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12, 72076 Tübingen.
Ophthalmologe. 2008 May;105(5):480-4. doi: 10.1007/s00347-007-1542-9.
Scleromalacia usually appears following vasculitis in systemic rheumatoid diseases, especially as a late symptom of rheumatoid arthritis.
A 67-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for further evaluation with the diagnosis of a "fast-growing tumor" of the left eye. Sixteen months ago she had suffered from herpes zoster ophthalmicus-associated keratouveitis and trabeculitis in the same eye. Scleromalacia associated with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was diagnosed after the biomicroscopic and gonioscopic examination of the eye was completed and a systemic disease had been ruled out. One week after beginning systemic application of acyclovir (5 x 800 mg daily) and prednisolone (30 mg daily), the anterior chamber inflammation regressed and a fibrosis seemed to appear in the atrophic scleral area.
Although scleral atrophy mostly appears as a late sign of systemic rheumatoid diseases, it might also develop secondary to infectious diseases. Scleromalacia associated with varicella-zoster virus has been previously described only in a few cases. Scleromalacia is a vision-threatening complication of zoster ophthalmicus which responds well to combination therapy with systemic antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents.
