Progressive outer retinal necrosis presenting as cherry red spot.

PURPOSE: To report a case of progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) presenting as a cherry red spot.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

A 53-year-old woman with recently diagnosed HIV and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) aseptic meningitis developed rapid sequential vision loss in both eyes over 2 months. Her exam showed a "cherry red spot" in both maculae with peripheral atrophy and pigmentary changes, consistent with PORN. Due to her late presentation and the rapid progression of her condition, she quickly developed end-stage vision loss in both eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

PORN should be considered within the differential diagnosis of a "cherry red spot." Immune-deficient patients with a history of herpetic infection who present with visual loss warrant prompt ophthalmological evaluation.