A Brush with Blindness: The Shingles Scare That Hit Ex-Fuji TV Star Shinsuke Kasai

When immunity declines, the virus becomes active again

Former Fuji TV announcer Shinsuke Kasai (62) revealed on his blog on September 25 that he had been hospitalized urgently due to shingles. Because he had previously battled stage 4 malignant lymphoma in 2019, there were concerns that his cancer might have recurred — a fear Kasai himself shared — but the diagnosis turned out to be shingles.

Later, Kasai wrote on his blog:“There are so many people saying, ‘I’ve had shingles too.’ I’ve realized it’s an illness that even more people have experienced than malignant lymphoma.”

So, what kind of illness is shingles? Dr. Yuki Sekiguchi, director of LUNA Women’s Medical Clinic, explains (quotes below are from Dr. Sekiguchi):

“About 90% of Japanese adults experienced chickenpox as children. The virus that causes it (the varicella-zoster virus) lies dormant in the nerve ganglia. Normally, immunity keeps it suppressed, but when immunity declines due to aging, stress, or illness, the virus reactivates and manifests as shingles.”

Although it’s a common illness that can happen to anyone, its symptoms can sometimes cause serious health problems.

“It usually starts with tingling or sharp, electric-like pain, followed by red rashes, blisters, and scabs. The most dangerous form is shingles affecting the eyes. When symptoms appear on the forehead or eyelids, it can be misdiagnosed as conjunctivitis or a stye.

However, if the virus spreads to the cornea or retina, it can cause keratitis or retinitis, and in the worst cases, lead to blindness. Doctors will refer patients to an ophthalmologist as soon as shingles around the eye is suspected, but early on, rashes may not be visible and can easily be missed.”

Recognizing early symptoms and seeking medical attention promptly is key to preventing complications.

“Redness in one eye, swelling or redness of the eyelid, and discomfort spreading from the forehead to around the eye — these can all be early signs of shingles. But if no skin symptoms are visible yet, people often dismiss them as simple conjunctivitis or mild dermatitis. Early medical attention is crucial.”

Shingles appearing on the face or scalp can also be serious.

“When shingles affects the face or scalp, inflammation may spread to the facial nerves, causing facial paralysis. This can make it difficult to move the mouth or eyelids, leading to facial distortion. Sometimes, discomfort or headaches appear before any skin symptoms, which are easily mistaken for fatigue.”

Prevent severe symptoms and aftereffects within 72 hours

Shingles on the eyes or face isn’t the only concern — even when it appears elsewhere on the body, it can still be dangerous.

“The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. Even after the skin rash heals, nerve damage can remain, causing intense pain that lasts for months — or in some cases, even years,”

explains Dr. Sekiguchi.

This pain is often described as burning, stabbing, or like electric shocks. Even light contact from clothing or a breeze can cause severe pain, significantly impacting daily life.

“It’s difficult for this pain to go away naturally, and if left untreated, it can become chronic and take a long time to heal. About 5–20% of people who get shingles develop postherpetic neuralgia. Among those aged 60 and older, it affects about 20%, and among those over 80, more than 30%. The older a person is, the weaker their nerves’ ability to recover, making long-term pain more likely.”

Such unrelenting pain can make it impossible to sleep and severely reduce quality of life, sometimes even leading to depression.

“If antiviral medication is started within 72 hours after the rash appears, it greatly increases the chance of preventing severe symptoms and long-term complications. For those aged 50 and older, the shingles vaccine is recommended, so I encourage people to consider getting vaccinated.”

Finally, Dr. Sekiguchi added:

“Many people think shingles is cured once the skin lesions heal, but in reality, nerve pain often lingers afterward. Some patients don’t realize their pain is due to shingles and delay seeking treatment. If pain persists even after the skin heals, it’s important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.”

Yuki Sekiguchi

After graduating from Yamagata University School of Medicine, Dr. Sekiguchi completed her doctoral studies at Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine. She is the Director of LUNA Women’s Medical Clinic and a Visiting Professor at Yokohama City University Graduate School. As a specialist in female urology and postmenopausal medicine, she provides comprehensive medical care that supports women through every stage of life. In addition to serving as the Representative Director of the Japan Femtech Association, promoting the advancement of femtech, she is also a certified physician in testosterone therapy by the Japan Men’s Health Medicine Society, with expertise in men’s menopause treatment.