title: Evaluation of ocular manifestations and blindness in HIV/AIDS patients in a tertiary care hospital in South India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors: Nayana Superspecialty Eye Hospital and Research Center, Davangere, Karnataka, India. drgsunil@yahoo.com
authors: Sunil
authors: S
authors: Ganekal
authors: Vishal
authors: V
authors: Jhanji
authors: Syril
authors: S
authors: Dorairaj
authors: Ashwini
authors: A
authors: Nagarajappa
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001766:Blindness / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult