Abstract

OPHTHALMIC MANIFESTATIONS OF HIV PATIENTS

Gupta Surbhi*

ABSTRACT

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is emerging as the most challenging pandemic of our time. Ocular lesions usually occur in the late phase of HIV infection but may be present during the manifestation of the disease. These can have disastrous consequences for sight. Very less information is available about such ocular manifestation, hence, this study was undertaken to identify the ocular manifestations of HIV/AIDS in GMC Jammu. Methods: A hospital-based observational cross-sectional study carried out at the Department of Ophthalmology Government Medical College, Jammu, J&K, India, for a period of 2 years. 50 HIV-positive patients, who were registered at the ART centre and referred to Ophthalmology OPD for ocular complaints were included in the study. Results: Mean age of patients was: 37.23 years ± 11.06 years; 30 patients (60%) had anterior segment lesions; The most common anterior segments were anterior uveitis (12%) and molluscum contagiosum (12%); 23 patients (46%) had posterior segment lesions; CMV retinitis (16%) was the most common opportunistic infection of the retina/choroid; 14.5% of eyes had a combination of Anterior and Posterior segments; 45.2% of eyes had poor or worst visual acuity; 52.9% with anterior lesions had CD4-count of more than 200 cells/mm3 while 31% with posterior lesions had CD4-count less than 100 cells/mm3 showing significant association with low CD4-count. Conclusions: The severity of ocular manifestations in HIV/AIDS with respect to visual impairment was higher in patients with low CD4-counts. Low CD4-count is a risk for ocular manifestations.

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