HIV can affect any part of the eyes, from more superficial areas such as the eyelids, to deep tissues such as the retina, vitreous and nerves, causing diseases such as retinitis, retinal detachment, Kaposi sarcoma, as well as various types of eye infections..
The chances of having vision affected by an infection are higher when the disease is at a late stage, due to immune changes caused by the disease, as well as opportunistic infections that take advantage of the lower immunity to settle down.
- After an HIV infection.
- It is possible to remain asymptomatic for many years.
- Until the low state of immunity facilitates the existence of infections and diseases in various organs.
- Including the eyes.
- So it is very important to avoid this complication with the prevention of diseases.
- Early detection.
- Learn about the main symptoms of AIDS and how to tell if you have the disease.
The main eye diseases caused by HIV are
Microangiopathies are lesions in small eye vessels that cause occlusions of blood flow or bleeding, which can affect the visual capacity of the affected person.
Treatment is usually done with antiretroviral therapy, such as zidovudine, didanosine or lamivudine, for example, used under the direction of infectious disease.Understand how AIDS treatment is done.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is quite common in people living with HIV, as it can cause retinitis with lesions in small blood vessels, which affect important eye structures and can affect vision.This infection usually occurs in cases of AIDS with a significant decrease in levels of the defense molecule CD4, which may be less than 50/mcL.
This infection is treated with antiviral agents, such as ganciclovir, phosphate, aciclovir or valganciclovir, for example, which are indicated by the infectious disease.Antiretroviral therapy is also important to prevent worsening immunity and ease of infection.
Eye infection with the chickenpox-zone virus usually causes quite serious infections, with levels of CD4 defense molecules below 24/mcL.This infection is called progressive retinal necrosis syndrome and is characterized by the formation of retinal lesions, which can enlarge and compromise the entire retina, resulting in its detachment and loss of vision.
Treatment is performed with continuous antiretroviral processing, however, it is not always possible to improve the condition and visual recovery.
People with weakened immunity to HIV are more likely to develop ocular toxoplasmosis, which is mainly transmitted through consumption of contaminated food and water.This infection mainly affects the vitreous and retina and causes symptoms such as decreased vision, sensitivity to light or eye pain.
Treatment is done with medicines with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, in some cases the ophthalmologist may perform surgeries such as photocoagulation, cryotherapy or vitrectomy to reduce complications of the disease, learn more about toxoplasmosis, how to contract it and how to treat it.
Kaposi sarcoma is a characteristic tumor of people infected with HIV, which affects any area containing skin and mucous membranes, and can also appear in the eyes and severely affect vision.
Treatment is done with antiretroviral therapy, chemotherapy and, if necessary, eye surgery.Better understand what Kaposi sarcoma is and how it presents itself.
Several other infections can affect the vision of people living with HIV, and some include herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia or thrush, for example, all of which should be treated by the infectious disease specialist in collaboration with the ophthalmologist.Learn more about AIDS- related diseases.