Ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in South Africa

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) causes impairment to the immune system, which then leads to immunocompromised conditions, and allows for opportunistic infection to invade many organs of the human body. Ocular involvement is very common; the...

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Main Authors: Prisilla S. Makunyane, Solani D. Mathebula
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2021-09-01
Series:African Vision and Eye Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/610
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author Prisilla S. Makunyane
Solani D. Mathebula
author_facet Prisilla S. Makunyane
Solani D. Mathebula
author_sort Prisilla S. Makunyane
collection DOAJ
description Background: Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) causes impairment to the immune system, which then leads to immunocompromised conditions, and allows for opportunistic infection to invade many organs of the human body. Ocular involvement is very common; the various ocular complications may be asymptomatic and they may be the initial manifestations of the underlying diseases. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the type of ocular manifestations that occur in HIV and AIDS patients. Setting: The study was conducted on ART (antiretroviral treatment) clinic patients in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on HIV and AIDS patients referred from the ART clinic for complete ophthalmological evaluation, irrespective of the immune system status and presence or absence of symptoms. All the participants underwent an ophthalmologic evaluation, which included case history and ocular examinations of both anterior and posterior segments. Results: Out of the 177 participants, 72.3% had visual acuity of between 6/3 to 6/18, 10% had poor vision, 7% had lost one eye to ocular complications and 5% were blind. The most common anterior segment manifestations were uveitis and dry eye, whilst HIV-related retinopathy and papilledema were the most prevalent conditions in the posterior segment. Only three participants had third cranial nerve palsy. Conclusion: The prevalence of ocular manifestations was significantly higher with lower CD4+ cell counts, which could be regarded as predictors for the occurrence of ocular morbidity in HIV and AIDS patients.
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spelling doaj.art-30f4e02c05874a33a9dd4ef70d3a457d2022-12-21T21:36:02ZengAOSISAfrican Vision and Eye Health2413-31832410-15162021-09-01801e1e610.4102/aveh.v80i1.610478Ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in South AfricaPrisilla S. Makunyane0Solani D. Mathebula1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, PretoriaDepartment of Optometry, University of Limpopo, SovengaBackground: Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) causes impairment to the immune system, which then leads to immunocompromised conditions, and allows for opportunistic infection to invade many organs of the human body. Ocular involvement is very common; the various ocular complications may be asymptomatic and they may be the initial manifestations of the underlying diseases. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the type of ocular manifestations that occur in HIV and AIDS patients. Setting: The study was conducted on ART (antiretroviral treatment) clinic patients in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on HIV and AIDS patients referred from the ART clinic for complete ophthalmological evaluation, irrespective of the immune system status and presence or absence of symptoms. All the participants underwent an ophthalmologic evaluation, which included case history and ocular examinations of both anterior and posterior segments. Results: Out of the 177 participants, 72.3% had visual acuity of between 6/3 to 6/18, 10% had poor vision, 7% had lost one eye to ocular complications and 5% were blind. The most common anterior segment manifestations were uveitis and dry eye, whilst HIV-related retinopathy and papilledema were the most prevalent conditions in the posterior segment. Only three participants had third cranial nerve palsy. Conclusion: The prevalence of ocular manifestations was significantly higher with lower CD4+ cell counts, which could be regarded as predictors for the occurrence of ocular morbidity in HIV and AIDS patients.https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/610aidshivcd4+ cell countocular manifestationsanterior segmentposterior segment
spellingShingle Prisilla S. Makunyane
Solani D. Mathebula
Ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in South Africa
African Vision and Eye Health
aids
hiv
cd4+ cell count
ocular manifestations
anterior segment
posterior segment
title Ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in South Africa
title_full Ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in South Africa
title_fullStr Ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in South Africa
title_short Ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in South Africa
title_sort ocular manifestations of hiv and aids patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in south africa
topic aids
hiv
cd4+ cell count
ocular manifestations
anterior segment
posterior segment
url https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/610
work_keys_str_mv AT prisillasmakunyane ocularmanifestationsofhivandaidspatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinatertiaryhospitalinsouthafrica
AT solanidmathebula ocularmanifestationsofhivandaidspatientsonantiretroviraltherapyinatertiaryhospitalinsouthafrica