Evaluation of Ocular Manifestations and Blindness in HIV/AIDS Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

Abstract

Purpose: To report the prevalence of ocular manifestations in patients with HIV/AIDS and their correlation with the clinical stage of disease as well as the CD4 cell count.

Methods: 100 HIV-positive patients, who presented to a tertiary care hospital, were included. The WHO clinical staging of HIV/AIDS, CD4 count, duration of disease, and presence and type of ocular manifestations were noted.

Results: Overall, 46 patients (46%) had ocular manifestations related to HIV/AIDS. The most common manifestations were HIV retinopathy (12%) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (7%). The prevalence of ocular manifestations correlated significantly with the WHO clinical stages 3 and 4 of HIV/AIDS (p = .001) and with low CD4 count (p = .001).

Conclusions: CD4 cell counts and WHO clinical stage of HIV disease are important predictors for the occurrence of ocular morbidity in HIV-positive individuals. Routine comprehensive ophthalmic screening and appropriate initiation of therapy in these patients can potentially decrease ocular morbidity.

KEYWORDS::

• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
• Anterior segment
• CD4+ T-cell count prevalence
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Ocular manifestations
• Posterior segment

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.