Shingles Vaccine May Increase Risk of Ocular Shingles Recurrence

Since the vaccine stimulates the immune system, it may cause the body to target viral-related remnants in the eye, leading to a recurrence of ocular shingles.

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Getting the recombinant zoster (shingles) vaccine (RZV), or Shingrix, if you have had an ocular shingles event, may increase your risk of experiencing a second event, a recent study shows.

Ocular shingles refers to all shingles that manifest in the eye area. Milder cases of ocular shingles typically occur near the eyelids, while more severe cases may cause inflammation inside the eyes and potentially lead to blindness.