The varicella zoster virus vaccine is the best way to protect against chickenpox and shingles, but recent research from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia found the vaccine may be associated with corneal inflammation in rare cases.
The researchers examined case reports from national and international registries and identified at least 20 cases of eye inflammation in children and adults within one month of receiving the vaccine.
"Keratitis, or inflammation of the clear layer on the front of the eye, is a vision issue that can cause serious complications or even permanent damage to your vision if left untreated," said Frederick W. Fraunfelder, MD, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the MU School of Medicine and director of MU Health Care's Mason Eye Institute.
According to Dr. Fraunfelder, the findings of the study should be discussed with primary care physicians and patients who have a history of eye inflammation before receiving the vaccination.
Despite the chance of developing this vision-related side effect, the researchers still recommend the majority of patients be regularly vaccinated against chickenpox and shingles.
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