Progressive outer retinal necrosis in an immunocompetent patient.

Progressive outer retinal necrosis syndrome is a variant of necrotizing herpetic retinopathy, a group of retinal infections caused by the herpes viruses. It has been described only in immunosuppressed patients. We present a healthy immunocompetent 16-year-old male who suffered a bilateral progressive outer retinal necrosis. Varicella-zoster virus infection was confirmed on the basis of serologic study. Treatment with intravenous acyclovir and oral prednisone was successful.