The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Patients with PHN experience pain at the rash site after the rash clears. For some, the pain lasts for years and is debilitating. Only 10% to18% of shingles patients develop PHN, and your risk for PHN increases with age. Most severe shingles complications arise when the shingles rash is located on the patient's face. A shingles rash developing near the eye becomes a dangerous condition called ophthalmic shingles, or "eye shingles." Untreated eye shingles can cause lasting vision damage, and it is critical to seek treatment early. Additional symptoms of eye shingles can include pink eye, facial swelling and blurry vision. Shingles can also affect your ears. In Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, shingles blisters occur outside and inside the ear. Symptoms include vertigo, severe ear pain and possibly permanent hearing damage. Other rare shingles complications are: Pneumonia Encephalitis (brain inflammation) Death