Zika Virus

Zika virus is a flavivirus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It has recently been associated with congenital microcephaly and chorioretinal lesions. In a series of 29 infants in Brazil with presumed intrauterine Zika virus infection, ocular abnormalities were present in 10 infants (35%) and were bilateral in 7 infants. The characteristic lesions included posterior pole pigmentary clumping and areas of circumscribed chorioretinal atrophy. In addition, 1 baby showed iris colobomas and lens subluxation. Cerebral visual impairment is common.

• de Paula Freitas B, de Oliveira Dias JR, Prazeres J, et al. Ocular findings in infants with microcephaly associated with presumed Zika virus congenital infection in Salvador, Brazil. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134(5):529–535.

Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.