Visual Outcome in Acute Retinal Necrosis

Correlation of varicella-zoster virus copies and final visual acuities of acute retinal necrosis syndrome

“…As reported by others [4,16] final visual acuities appeared to fall into two groups. Seven patients showed final visual acuities of 0.3 or less, and five patients had acuities of 0.4 or better (Table 1).…”

“…Our patients could be separated into two groups, depending on final visual acuity: one with acuity of 0.3 or less and the other of 0.4 or better, as reported by others [4,16]. When we compared the maximum dilution of ocular fluids to amplify the viral genome DNA between these two groups, the former had more virus copies than the latter in the ocular fluids (P`0.01).…”

“…In addition, aged patients had a tendency toward poor visual outcome [16]. Other authors reported that patients with ARN syndrome whose clinical findings were limited to several quadrants of the peripheral retina had a relatively good prognosis, if aggressively treated [4]. In addition, several authors have reported that ARN may develop in association with an imbalance of the immune system in HIV-negative patients [2,22].…”

Acute retinal necrosis in the United Kingdom: results of a prospective surveillance study

“…21,22 In some papers on the topic it appears that those patients with severe disease and a poor view due to extensive vitritis tend not to undergo laser, whereas milder cases will be lasered. 23,24 This can obviously lead to selection bias in the interpretation of results in that patients with clearer media are lasered. Such patients possibly have mild or earlier disease to begin with and are therefore less likely to detach.…”

Antiviral selection in the management of acute retinal necrosis

“…No patient developed bilateral disease over a median follow up of 9.5 months. 16 In 1991, Palay et al reviewed the course of 54 patients who had unilateral ARN at initial examination. Thirty-one patients were treated with intravenous acyclovir, whereas 23 were not treated with acyclovir.…”