Current Clinical Trials

Zoster Eye Disease Study (ZEDS)

Important Study on Shingles of the Eye

The Zoster Eye Disease Study (ZEDS), supported by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, aims to determine the best treatment to reduce the complications of herpes zoster ophthalmicus, also referred to as shingles of the eye. Our goals are to have a diverse group of study participants and to make the study as accessible as possible across the United States and Canada. Your participation in this research study will enable us to find the best treatment for zoster/shingles of the eye.

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether a low-dose of antiviral treatment taken by mouth for one year reduces complications of the varicella zoster virus, including eye disease and chronic pain. This treatment is effective and widely used in a similar eye disease caused by a related virus. The antiviral medication has been approved for many years for the short-term treatment of acute zoster/shingles and other viral infections, and has an excellent safety record. The study is designed to obtain the highest quality evidence to determine optimal care for future patients.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with eye disease caused by zoster/shingles, you can learn more about ZEDS by calling Lyndsay Dupree at 501-296-1156, or you can call the ZEDS Coordinating Center at NYU Langone Health at 1-844-NYU-ZEDS (1-844-698-9337). You can also learn more on the ZEDS website or on clinicaltrials.gov.