Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus in Patients at Risk for AIDS

To the Editor: Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is a disease primarily affecting the elderly during the sixth and seventh decades of life.^{1 2 3} Between October 1982 and September 1983, we evaluated 25 consecutive cases of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (defined by the presence of a classic vesiculobullous rash extending over a trigeminal branch distribution with or without concomitant blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and uveitis⁴); information on patterns of sexual behavior and intravenous drug abuse were obtained from the history and physical examination. Fifteen patients were male, and 10 were female. Fourteen of 25 patients (56 per cent) were aged 15 to 44 years.