Clinical Research Studies

The purpose of this study is to find out whether one year of a low dose of the medicine valacyclovir reduces complications of shingles affecting the eye. Shingles is caused by the chicken pox virus. The study will involve two groups of participants who have eye problems due to shingles. One group will receive daily valacyclovir medication and the other group will receive placebo (a pill designed to look like valacyclovir but contains no active drug). This study is looking to see if treatment with 12 months of daily valacyclovir medication reduces the development of certain types of new or worsening eye disease; specifically, infection on the surface of the front of the eye (cornea), inflammation of the cornea, or inflammation inside the front of the eye (referred to as dendriform epithelial keratitis, stromal keratitis, endothelial keratitis, and iritis). In addition, the researchers hope to find out if this treatment reduces postherpetic neuralgia, the condition of ongoing pain after the shingles infection goes away. The researchers also want to find out if the effects of valacyclovir treatment last during the six months after treatment is finished.