Deficits in perimetric performance in patients with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We measured the perimetric performance in patients with either acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease but without AIDS.


METHODS
Light-difference sensitivity in the central field was measured in 74 eyes of 37 patients. The Humphrey Field Analyzer 640, program 30-2 was used. Additionally, 143 eyes of 143 normal control subjects were studied.


RESULTS
Mean deviation was significantly reduced in patients with HIV disease compared with control subjects (mean +/- S.E.M., -4.30 +/- 0.52 vs -0.77 +/- 0.15, respectively; P < .0001). Analysis of subgroups demonstrated that patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome or AIDS-related complex (N = 40 eyes; -3.52 +/- 0.41; P < .0001) as well as patients with AIDS (N = 34 eyes; -5.23 +/- 0.97; P < .0001) had a reduced mean deviation. Those comparisons remained significant (P < .0001) when data were analyzed independently for the right eyes and for the left eyes. Corrected pattern standard deviation (3.15 +/- 0.30 vs 1.39 +/- 0.09; P < .0001) was higher in patients with HIV disease compared with control subjects. Again, analysis of subgroups disclosed a significant increase in patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome or AIDS-related complex (2.55 +/- 0.36; P < .0001) as well as in patients with AIDS (3.85 +/- 0.51; P < .0001). Both comparisons remained significant when data were analyzed independently for the right and left eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates visual dysfunction despite normal visual acuity in patients with HIV disease. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis of damage at the neuroretinal level.
Geier
S A
SA
Augenklinik Abteilung II und Forschungsstelle für Experimentelle Ophthalmologie, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Germany.
Nöhmeier
C
C
Lachenmayr
B J
BJ
Klauss
V
V
Goebel
F D
FD
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields