ORIGINAL ARTICLE Posterior Intracorneal Opacities in Patients with HIV Infection

Abstract

Purpose: To describe a keratopathy in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Methods: Retrospective review of ophthalmic and medical records, including laboratory evaluations, of seven patients with HIV infection and posterior intracorneal opacities. Results: Each patient had a bilateral peripheral keratopathy located at the level of the Descemet membrane that was unassociated with intraocular inflammation. All patients were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). All patients had elevations in their CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts due to HAART prior to presenting with the corneal opacities. Five of the seven patients had elevated serum cholesterol, triglycerides, or both. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 or better in six of the seven patients at the time of diagnosis, and vision remained stable through the follow-up period in all patients (median follow-up: 25 months; range: 14–82 months). The corneal opacities remained unchanged in all seven over the follow-up period. Conclusion: These patients have a bilateral keratopathy that appears to be non-progressive and has no effect on visual acuity.

• Corneal opacities
• highly active antiretroviral therapy
• HIV disease
• hyperlipidemia