When You Should See a Doctor. During a shingles outbreak, you should see a doctor when: 1  Shingles symptoms begin to develop on your face or head, especially near the eyes. 2  Watch for pain in these areas and changes in vision.his can be a sign of postherpetic neuralgia, a painful condition where the nerves have been damaged by the virus. Postherpetic neuralgia is most common in older adults. You should also see a health practitioner if you have repeated outbreaks of shingles.