<unk>  <unk>  syndrome is a form of chorio-retinitis, an infection in the retina, the back of the eye. The disease is most commonly caused by the Varicella zoster virus and is found almost exclusively in patients with HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).<unk>  is the second most common opportunistic retinal infection in North America among people with AIDS. The reason this disease process is considered opportunistic is precisely because it only presents in patients with AIDS, a disease that attacks and weakens the immune system, making space for other infections, like Varicella zoster virus (VZV) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV), to attack the body. The syndrome,<unk> , falls under the umbrella of Necrotizing Herpetic Retinopathy, along with Acute Retinal<unk>  (ARN). Although fairly similar processes, the two forms of retinopathy have different presenting symptoms. Acute Retinal<unk> , or ARN, is damage more central in the retinal portion of the eye with dead or necrotic areas well defined. ARN also presents with inflammation within the eye and is often painful.<unk>  <unk>  is a chorioretinitis presenting with multiple lesions in the peripheral retina. Unlike ARN, this disease process has no signs of intraocular inflammation, the hallmark feature, or vascular involvement.
Progressive outer retinal necrosis
Chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy
Intraretinal microvascular abnormalities
Punctate inner choroiditis
Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Choroidal neovascularization
Progressive retinal atrophy
Acute retinal necrosis