# The Impact of the Herpes Zoster Vaccine on Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $396,250

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Herpes zoster (HZ) of the ophthalmic distribution, herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), is the second most
common location of HZ and can cause significant morbidity. Patients with HZO may experience permanent
vision loss, chronic inflammation requiring long-term therapy, and complications such as cataract, glaucoma,
and postherpetic neuralgia. In 2006, the FDA approved a HZ vaccine (
Zostavax®
) for immunocompetent
adults over age 60, after it was shown to reduce the incidence of HZ by 51%. However, there is a paucity of
data regarding its effectiveness against HZO. We aim to determine if the HZ vaccine is as effective in
preventing HZO as HZ, and if vaccination affects the severity and disease course of HZO.
We propose to use four big data sources to address our questions about HZO and the impact of the HZ
vaccine in a “real-world” setting. To determine the effectiveness of the HZ vaccine at each year post-
vaccination, we will use proportional hazards regression with inverse propensity score weighting in the
OptumLabs health insurance database, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system, and the Kaiser
Permanente Hawaii (KPH) electronic medical record system (Aim 1). These databases will also be used to
determine the incidence of HZO and how it has changed since the implementation of the HZ vaccine (Aim 2).
To provide more detailed analysis of patient outcomes, medical record review will be performed with KPH
records to determine how the vaccine impacts the severity and chronicity of HZO (Aim 3). To then compare the
ocular morbidity associated with HZO to other ophthalmic conditions, we will be analyzing the Intelligent
Research in Sight (IRIS®) Registry through American Academy of Ophthalmology (Aim 4). By using multiple
data sources, we aim to obtain generalizable results from large and diverse populations to characterize how
HZ vaccination affects the incidence and clinical course of HZO.
Our proposed study will provide clinically relevant information from a variety of populations on the morbidity
caused by HZO, as well as the impact of the HZ vaccine on the development and course of HZO. These
results could have significant public health implications and be used to formulate recommendations on the use
of the vaccine from an ophthalmic perspective.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9842497
- **Project number:** 5R01EY028739-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** NISHA ACHARYA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $396,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9842497

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9842497, The Impact of the Herpes Zoster Vaccine on Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (5R01EY028739-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9842497. Licensed CC0.

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