Ocular Monkeypox — United States, July–September 2022

In July 2022, a man aged 30–39 years with HIV disease (CD4 = 78 cells/mm³, not on ART) was evaluated at an emergency department with a rash on his chest, legs, perianal area, and face, including on the bridge of his nose near his right eye (Table) (Figure 1). Swabs of lesions from his face and scalp were taken to test for OPXV, but because tecovirimat was not available in the emergency department, he was referred to an outpatient clinic to receive tecovirimat. The swabs tested PCR-positive for OPXV. The patient was evaluated at an outpatient clinic 9 days after testing and was prescribed ART and 14 days of oral tecovirimat. His rash began to resolve during treatment. Two weeks after completion of tecovirimat, he developed new and worsening facial lesions. The lesion on his nose expanded onto the right medial canthus and over the conjunctiva, and he experienced right eye redness, pain, itching, and photosensitivity, for which he was hospitalized. He did not experience vision changes. Ophthalmologic exam results were notable for right eye conjunctivitis, several small conjunctival nodular lesions, and corneal ulcers. He was treated again with intravenous tecovirimat for 10 days and with topical trifluridine drops for 5 days and antibacterial eye drops to the right eye. He was discharged upon regression of the eye lesion and improvement in conjunctivitis 10 days after admission, without further treatment for monkeypox.

In August 2022, a previously healthy man aged 30–39 years developed rectal pain and perianal lesions. He went to an emergency department 3 days later and swabs of those lesions were taken for OPXV testing (Table) (Figure 1). Three days later, when the swabs yielded positive PCR test results for OPXV, the patient was prescribed oral tecovirimat for rectal pain. Two days later, he was evaluated again in the emergency department with right eye pain, redness and discharge. He did not experience vision changes. Ophthalmologic exam was notable for right eye conjunctivitis. He subsequently developed bilateral conjunctivitis; the treating physicians suspected the patient had autoinoculated both eyes with MPXV by rubbing them. The patient’s bilateral conjunctivitis persisted for 3 weeks after resolution of his perianal lesions. The course of tecovirimat was extended until all ocular symptoms resolved, which occurred after 1 month of treatment.

In August 2022, a previously healthy man aged 30–39 years developed a groin rash (Table) (Figure 1). One week later, he was examined at an emergency department for right eye redness, pain, and eyelid swelling. He reported rubbing his right eye. Lesions were noted on his penis, abdomen, and one wrist. Samples were collected from the body lesions for OPXV testing; the patient received empiric treatment for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Providers attributed the eye symptoms to bacterial preseptal cellulitis and he was discharged on oral antibiotics. Two days later, the patient returned with multiple right eyelid lesions, periorbital swelling, and eye pain, for which he was admitted to a hospital. He did not experience vision changes. Ophthalmologic exam was notable for right eye conjunctivitis as well as four ulcers on the eyelid margin and three lesions on the palpebral conjunctiva, which were swabbed for OPXV testing. He was started on oral tecovirimat empirically, after which all test results from swabs of skin and eye lesions returned PCR-positive for OPXV. The patient also received topical trifluridine for 5 days and antibacterial drops to the right eye, as well as intravenous antibiotics for preseptal cellulitis. He was discharged upon clinical improvement 5 days after admission, to complete a 14-day course of oral tecovirimat.

In July 2022, a previously healthy woman aged 30–39 years was evaluated for pustular lesions on her vaginal labia (Table) (Figure 1). A swab of those lesions tested PCR-positive for OPXV. During the week after symptom onset, lesions spread to her back, buttocks, chin, forehead, and left lower eyelid. She began experiencing left eye pain and redness. She sought medical care after noticing a lesion on the globe of her left eye, for which she was admitted to a hospital. Ophthalmologic exam was notable for left eye conjunctivitis, a bulbar conjunctival lesion, and a subconjunctival nodule. She did not experience vision changes. start highlightNeither tecovirimat nor trifluridine was immediately available; the patient was treated with naproxen.end highlight Her ocular symptoms improved, and she was discharged after 3 days with a 14-day course of oral tecovirimat and start highlighta 5-day course of topical trifluridine (2).end highlight

This report highlights the varying clinical manifestations of ocular monkeypox and the importance of prompt evaluation and treatment to prevent sight-threatening complications. All five patients with ocular monkeypox described in this report suffered prolonged illness, four were hospitalized, and one experienced significant vision impairment. Two patients had HIV-associated immunocompromise and experienced delays in initiation of treatment for monkeypox. One of these patients experienced vision loss; he remains in treatment and his prognosis for vision recovery is currently unknown. Urgent referral for ophthalmologic evaluation and prompt antiviral therapy should be considered for patients with monkeypox and ocular signs or symptoms (e.g., vision changes or eye pain, itching, redness, swelling, or foreign body sensation) or lesions near the eye. Clinicians should consider initiation of prompt systemic antiviral therapy as well as topical trifluridine for patients with ocular monkeypox.^¶¶

Several strategies might help prevent ocular monkeypox and associated complications. To decrease the risk for autoinoculation, persons with monkeypox should be advised to practice hand hygiene and to avoid touching their eyes, which includes refraining from using contact lenses start highlight(3).end highlight Short turnaround times for OPXV/MPXV PCR test results might help prevent delays in treatment initiation. For persons with suspected ocular monkeypox, or for persons with suspected monkeypox who are at risk for severe manifestations of the disease (e.g., those with HIV-associated immunocompromise), clinicians might consider initiating empiric treatment for monkeypox while test results are pending. Health care providers can contact their public health jurisdictions and CDC for support on the use of medical countermeasures to treat patients with monkeypox*** start highlight(4).end highlight

The findings in this report are subject to at least two limitations. First, the cases described might not be representative of patients with ocular monkeypox in the United States, and conclusions cannot be drawn about the frequency of reported events. Although the frequency of ocular monkeypox during the current outbreak is unknown, national surveillance data from the United States suggest that 5% of patients with monkeypox report ocular symptoms^††† start highlight(5).end highlight Second, not every patient underwent testing of ocular lesions for OPXV/MPXV or exhaustive testing for other ocular infections. However, the clinical findings in these patients were compatible with descriptions of ocular monkeypox from other studies start highlight(6,7).end highlight

Ocular monkeypox is a potentially sight-threatening infection. Urgent ophthalmologic evaluation and the provision of timely medical countermeasures for patients with suspected or confirmed ocular monkeypox might help prevent poor outcomes.