Ocular Shingles

Mom had been complaining about her scalp itching and she kept rubbing the area around her left eye.
We thought it was her sinuses bothering her. We treated her with OTC benadryl without relief.
Finally on day 3 she had these lumps and bumps on the left side of her forehead and eye.

She called her primary doc and asked me to take some photos and send to her.
These are the photos I sent. 

 Her doctors response was "It looks like ocular shingles" She needs to see an eye doctor to make sure she isn't getting any blisters on her eye and avoid any long term vision problems.

I was able to get her in to the doctor on Friday and he confirmed the diagnosis and put her on an anti-viral med and 5 day Medrol dose pack. 

 

As of Monday morning, the areas are starting to look scabbed over and the itching has subsided.
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Chicken pox is caused by the herpes zoster virus. The same herpes zoster virus can recur decades later causing shingles, most commonly found on the trunk of the body. The second most common location of shingles is around the eye, it is called herpes zoster ophthalmicus. It often begins with a tingling or burning sensation of the scalp, forehead or cheeks. A few days later it may break out into a painful rash. If caught within the first few days of the rash, shingles is treated with antiviral pills. It can also affect the cornea and cause inflammation in the front or back of the eye and also glaucoma. Depending on the exact ocular involvement, shingles in the eye may be treated with a variety of medications, including steroids.