Approach Considerations

Retinal lesions regress a mean of 3.9 days after initiation of antiviral therapy. No new retinal lesions or progressive optic nerve involvement has been noted 48 hours or more after treatment is initiated.^[13]

Timely clinical diagnosis hastens earlier antiviral therapy. Better initial visual acuity makes for better visual outcomes.^[4]

Medical Care

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) treatment consists of the following^{[14, 15, 16, 17]}:

Antiviral therapy, including intravenous acyclovir, oral valacyclovir, oral famciclovir, intravitreal foscarnet, intravitreal valacyclovir, or intravitreal famciclovir,^{[18, 13, 19, 20]}or a combination of oral and intravitreal antiviral therapies: Given the evidence that most cases of ARN are due to varicella-zoster or herpes simplex viral infection, acyclovir therapy is recommended. Most clinicians have observed that acyclovir speeds the regression of ARN and prevents new lesion formation.^[18] There is a significant correlation between prompt treatment and outcomes.^[21]
Anti-inflammatory therapy
Antithrombotic therapy
Retinal detachment prophylaxis

For severe ARN, early vitrectomy with laser demarcation of areas of retinal necrosis together with intravenous antiviral agents should be considered.^[22]

Surgical Care

Surgical procedures, such as the following, are required when retinal detachment occurs:

Vitrectomy
Endolaser
Possible scleral buckle
Intraocular tamponade: Silicone oil is the usual choice due to the multiple necrotic/atrophic retinal holes (Swiss cheese appearance).
C₃ F₈ (octafluoropropane/perfluoropropane) or other fluoridated gases for temporary absorbable intraocular tamponade

Consultations

Consultations may be obtained from an infectious disease specialist or internist.

Medication

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Media Gallery

The white area is necrotic retina.
Severe vitritis with occlusive arteriolitis.

of 2

Author

Andrew A Dahl, MD, FACS Assistant Professor of Surgery (Ophthalmology), New York College of Medicine (NYCOM); Director of Residency Ophthalmology Training, The Institute for Family Health and Mid-Hudson Family Practice Residency Program; Staff Ophthalmologist, Telluride Medical Center

Andrew A Dahl, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Intraocular Lens Society, American Medical Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Medical Society of the State of New York, New York State Ophthalmological Society, Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

David T Wong, MD, FRCSC Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine; Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, St Michael's Hospital, Canada

David T Wong, MD, FRCSC is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Ophthalmological Society, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Ontario Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Novartis, Alcon, Bayer Received research grant from: Novartis, Alcon, Bayer, Genetech Received consulting fee from Alcon for consulting; Received consulting fee from Novartis for consulting; Received consulting fee from Bayer for consulting; Received consulting fee from Allergan for consulting; Received consulting fee from B & L for consulting.

Saad Waheeb, MB, BCh, FRCSC Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital

Saad Waheeb, MB, BCh, FRCSC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Canadian Ophthalmological Society, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Steve Charles, MD Founder and CEO of Charles Retina Institute; Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine

Disclosure: Received royalty and consulting fees for: Alcon Laboratories.

Chief Editor

C Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR, FAAO, FARVO Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Founder and President, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution

C Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR, FAAO, FARVO is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Surgeons, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Uveitis Society, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Medical Society, Royal Society of Medicine, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: Aldeyra Therapeutics (Lexington, MA); Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Inc (Rancho Cucamonga, CA); Eyegate Pharma (Waltham, MA); Novartis (Cambridge, MA); pSivida (Watertown, MA); Xoma (Berkeley, CA); Allakos (Redwood City, CA) Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Alcon (Geneva, Switzerland); Allergan (Dublin, Ireland); Mallinckrodt (Staines-upon-Thames, United Kingdom) Received research grant from: Alcon; Aldeyra Therapeutics; Allakos Pharmaceuticals; Allergan; Bausch & Lomb; Clearside Biomedical; Dompé pharmaceutical; Eyegate Pharma; Mallinckrodt pharmaceuticals; Novartis; pSivida; Santen; Aciont Stock for: Eyegate Pharma.

Additional Contributors

Brian A Phillpotts, MD Ophthalmologist, St Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute

Brian A Phillpotts, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Diabetes Association, American Society of Retina Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acute Retinal Necrosis Treatment & Management

Approach Considerations

Medical Care

Surgical Care

Consultations

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures

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