Herpes zoster ophthalmicus temporally after COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review of uncontrolled case reports and case series.

PurposeHerpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) following COVID-19 vaccination has been reported previously but the clinical characteristics, onset, treatment, and outcomes of these cases have not been previously systematically reviewed.MethodsA systematic review, guided by PRISMA guidelines, surveyed PubMed and Embase databases from April 2021 to June 2023 for case reports and series detailing HZO following COVID-19 vaccination. Studies excluded were abstracts, reviews, and clinical trials. A subsequent descriptive analysis was performed, focusing on patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.ResultsSixteen publications involving 27 participants who developed HZO post-COVID-19 vaccination met the inclusion criteria. The onset of HZO averaged 13 days (SD 12) postvaccination, predominantly after the first dose (n = 20/27 HZO cases, 74%). Most patients (70%) had preexisting medical conditions. Antiherpetic antiviral therapy was utilized in all cases, with the majority achieving resolution of cutaneous and ocular symptoms. Long-term sequelae included postherpetic neuralgia in 7.4% of patients.ConclusionCases of HZO following COVID-19 vaccination generally mirror the clinical trajectory of HZO in general. This review focused on case reports describing HZO occurring in an interval postvaccination; neither association nor causation can be addressed methodologically.