RT - Journal TY - JOUR A1 - Sahu, Dinesh A1 - Namperumalsamy, P A1 - Walimbe, Prasad A1 - Rajalakshmi, Chitra T1 - Ocular manifestations of HIV infection/AIDS in South Indian patients YR - 1999/4/1 JF - Indian Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Indian J Ophthalmol SP - 79 OP - 85 VO - 47 IS - 2 UL - https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=1999;volume=47;issue=2;spage=79;epage=85;aulast=Sahu;t=5 N2 - Purpose: To evaluate the nature and prevalence of ocular manifestations in a group of patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) from South India, and to elaborate the impact of the disease on existing health agencies. Methods: We examined 19 consecutive patients with AIDS (Group-A) who presented to our centre. After counselling, HIV screening tests were also performed on 8 individuals related to the patients and those who were seropositive (Group-B) were examined for ophthalmic lesions. Results:In Group-A, HIV retinopathy was present in 34%, CMV retinitis in 39%, Herpes Simplex-related Acute Retinal Necrosis (ARN) and retinitis in 11%, tubercular choroiditis in 11%, while Herpes Zoster retinitis and presumed P. carinii choroidopathy each were observed in 2.5% of the eyes. Results of screening tests in Group-B revealed HIV-seropositive asymptomatic status in 6 (75%) of them with no ocular manifestations. Conclusion: HIV retinopathy and opportuninstic ocular infections were common in AIDS patients. Heterosexuality was the most common mode of transmission. Since no effective management is readily available, prevention through proper counselling appears to be the only defence against AIDS in India. ER -