Acute Retinal Necrosis Syndrome: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN syndrome) is a rare syndrome; the germs involved belong to the herpes virus family. Complications include cystoid macular edema and retinal detachment, which is a frequent complication with a poor prognosis. We report the case of an immunocompetent patient with unilateral acute retinal necrosis due to VZV. The drop in visual acuity was brutal. Intravenous antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapy was initiated on an emergency basis, followed by oral maintenance therapy. The patient was complicated during this treatment by cystoid macular edema treated with retrobulbar steroids injections.  The Knowledge of this condition, which diagnosis is essentially clinical, is necessary in order to avoid the extension of retinal necrosis and to prevent the reccurrence of complications.