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Lloyd III, MD, FACS — By Bethany Cadman — Updated on July 17, 2022A person with shingles will usually break out in a painful rash on their upper body. However, shingles can also develop on the face and in the eye. If this happens, the condition can cause vision problems that can be very serious. Shingles can affect different parts of the body, including the face and eyes. People cannot develop shingles unless they contract the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Once a person has experienced chickenpox, the virus will remain in their body. In some people, the varicella virus stays dormant. In others, it becomes active and causes shingles. The virus can become active again and again throughout a person’s lifetime. Other names for the varicella-zoster virus are “VZV” and “the chickenpox virus.” Shingles is also known as herpes zoster. The virus that causes shingles is not the same as the herpes viruses that cause cold sores or genital herpes. In this article, we describe the symptoms of shingles and how the condition can affect the eyes and vision. We also explore treatment options, complications, and tips for prevention. Symptoms of shingles Share on PinterestCatur Kurniawan/EyeEm/Getty ImagesShingles can cause several symptoms. Often, the first is pain. Shingles pain can feel different for each person. Some people experience a dull throbbing, while others feel a sharp stabbing or burning sensation. The pain may be constant or come and go. Another common symptom is a rash that usually forms as tiny blisters. These can be sore and itchy. The rash usually develops in a band on the upper body, but sometimes it appears on the face. Usually, the rash affects only one side of the body. Additional symptoms of shingles include:headachenauseafeverchills In rare cases, shingles can cause problems with the central nervous system. This can lead to:muscle weakness or paralysisdifficulty with bladder control or urination (neurogenic bladder)Guillain-Barré syndromeinflammation of the brain (encephalitis) Shingles can also lead to serious conditions such as pneumonia. In extremely rare cases, a shingles infection can be fatal. If a person develops shingles during pregnancy, they should consult a doctor. A person cannot pass shingles to a fetus, as they can with chickenpox. However, the symptoms of shingles may require treatment to avoid potential risks to the pregnant person or the fetus. Symptoms of shingles on the face If shingles affects a person’s face, they may experience:a rasha burning sensation, pain, or sensitivitydifficulty moving parts of their facehearing lossvertigodrooping eyelidsproblems with the gums, teeth, tongue, or palateproblems with the ability to tasteproblems with vision, including the inability to move the eye Symptoms of shingles in the eye The medical term for shingles in the eye is herpes zoster ophthalmicus or opthalmic zoster. Symptoms of shingles in the eye include:blistering on the forehead, on the tip of the nose, on the upper eyelid, or around the eye, usually on only one side of the faceredness and swelling around the eyelidan itchy eyea painful and inflamed cornea (keratitis)sensitivity to lightblurred visiondifficulty moving the eye (optic nerve palsy) While these symptoms can indicate shingles, they can also characterize other eye conditions. Anyone with severe eye symptoms should get medical attention right away. How shingles can get into the eyes After the symptoms of chickenpox have cleared up, the virus lies dormant in the body. More specifically, the virus remains in the nerves. At any time, the virus can reactivate and cause shingles to develop. When the virus reactivates in a nerve called the trigeminal nerve, it can cause shingles of the eye. The trigeminal nerve carries signals between the brain and several areas of the face, including the eye. How is shingles in the eye diagnosed and treated Anyone who suspects they have shingles in their eye should go to the emergency room or visit a primary care doctor or eye doctor as soon as possible. Shingles in the eye can lead to vision loss and other serious complications. To diagnose shingles in the eye, a doctor will perform a physical examination and ask about symptoms. They will usually examine the eye more closely using instruments such as a slit lamp and an ophthalmoscope. This will help them identify clinical signs of the condition both outside and inside the eye. A doctor may also request tests of:a person’s bloodfluid from blistersfluid from the eye Test results can help determine whether the shingles virus is causing a person’s symptoms. Treatment options include:Antiviral medications: These drugs can come in liquid or tablet form. A person should take the medication as soon as possible for maximum effectiveness.Eye drops: A person can use these to help keep the eye moist or to treat an infection.Cool compresses: A doctor may recommend placing a cool, slightly damp cloth over the eyes to soothe pain.Pain medications: Treatment options for pain will depend on the severity of pain and other considerations. If shingles in the eye has caused complications, a person is likely to need additional treatments. In this case, an eye specialist (opthalmologist) will typically determine the best course of treatment. Risk factors for shingles About 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles at some point in their life. Anyone who has experienced chickenpox can develop shingles, but it is more common in people over 50 years old. There is no one clear reason why the virus reactivates. Some risk factors include:being olderhaving a lot of stresshaving another illnesshaving a weakened immune systemtaking immunosuppressant medications A vaccine is available that can help prevent people from developing shingles. Complications of shingles in the eye Some cases of shingles go away on their own. However, shingles on the face is not something to ignore. Shingles on the face or in the eye can cause severe complications such as:eye inflammation that does not go awaypain that does not go awaydry eyeinfectionscorneal ulcerscorneal scarringglaucomacataractsdouble visionvision loss blindness The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain that lasts for a long time after the shingles rash has cleared. The pain can last for months or years. It can sometimes be severe, affecting a person’s daily activities. Getting shingles treatment early can often prevent or reduce postherpetic neuralgia. Treatments such as antiviral medications can help clear up the infection. Prevention The most effective way to prevent shingles is to get the shingles vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) for people who are:aged 50 and olderaged 19 and older and have weakened immune systems The CDC recommend getting two doses of the vaccine. According to the CDC, 2 doses of Shingrix are 97% effective at preventing shingles in adults aged 50–69 with healthy immune systems. In adults aged 70 and older with healthy immune systems, 2 doses of Shingrix are 91% effective at preventing the condition. An older shingles vaccine called Zostavax is no longer available in the United States. People who are eligible for the shingles vaccine should talk with a doctor to find out whether the vaccine is right for them. Is shingles contagious The same virus causes both shingles and chickenpox. If a person contracts the varicella-zoster virus from someone with shingles, they will develop chickenpox, not shingles. This means that a person with shingles can spread chickenpox to someone who has never had it. A person with shingles can also spread chickenpox to someone with a weakened immune system. People with weakened immune systems can get chickenpox more than once. The contagious stage of shingles is over when the blisters on the skin have healed. This can take 2–4 weeks. To minimize the chances of passing on the virus:Keep the shingles rash covered.Try not to scratch it.Practice good hygiene, especially by washing the hands after touching the rash. Outlook Shingles in the eye is a serious condition. If the shingles rash develops on the face, seek medical attention right away. Prompt treatment with antiviral medication can help relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Eye-related complications of shingles can be severe. Anyone who suspects that they have shingles in the eye should seek urgent medical attention. Last medically reviewed on July 17, 2022DermatologyShinglesEye Health / BlindnessInfectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses 9 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.About shingles (herpes zoster). (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.htmlBoyd, K. (2022). What is shingles (herpes zoster)?https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/herpes-zoster-shinglesHuff, T., et al. (2021). Neuroanatomy, cranial nerve 5 (trigeminal).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482283/Minor, M., et al. (2021). Herpes zoster ophthalmicus.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557779/Nair, P. A., et al. (2021). Herpes zoster.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441824/Shingles. (2019).https://medlineplus.gov/shingles.htmlShingles. (2021).https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/shinglesShingles vaccination. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.htmlWhat everyone should know about Zostavax. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/zostavax/index.htmlFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS — By Bethany Cadman — Updated on July 17, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageShingles: What you need to knowMedically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M.D., CAQ, FAAFP The virus that causes chickenpox can also cause shingles, a painful neurological condition with a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. 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