Lingering pain is the result of injured sensory nerves, which may remain overly sensitive for years after the viral attack. The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have herpes zoster. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor for a complete exam. The usual procedure is to control pain and prevent further skin infection with soaks, scrubs and other treatments. Antiviral drugs, steroids taken by mouth, or other medicines may sometimes be helpful.
Most people recover without complications.
Unfortunately, some people have permanent visual damage and continue to have pain for years.