Evaluation of ocular manifestations and blindness in HIV/AIDS patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

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.