Pattern and Prevalence of Ocular Morbidity Among HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART

Abstract

The pattern of ocular manifestation of human immune deficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency 
syndrome (AIDS) infection in Bayelsa state, Nigeria is presently unknown. In order to effectively control 
HIV/AIDS infection in the state, it is important to know the ocular manifestation of HIV/AIDS infection in 
this locality. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the eye manifestation of HIV infection in patients 
receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). A descriptive study was carried out on all 
consecutive HIV infected patients including those with the advanced stage of the disease. They were all 
receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy at the “Heart to Heart” clinic of the Niger Delta University 
Teaching Hospital (NDUTH). The study took place over a period of 16 months. A detailed medical history 
followed by a comprehensive ocular examination was carried out on each patient, and the findings were 
recorded. A total of 150 HIV positive patients were examined during the period of this study. They were 
57 males and 93 females, with a male to female ratio of 1:1.6. Twenty one patients with ages ranging from 
8 to 66 years old presented with ocular manifestation of HIV/AIDS infection. They had a mean age of 41.48 
years old (standard deviation (SD) ± 13.98). The prevalence of ocular manifestation of HIV/AIDS infection 
was found to be 14% (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.4 to 19.6). HIV related microvasculopathy and uveitis 
(each 24%) were the commonest ocular manifestation in this population followed by retrobulbar optic 
neuritis (19.2%) and Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (9.6%). HIV related microvasculopathy, uveitis and 
retrobulbar optic neuritis were responsible for over 2/3 of ocular manifestation. Herpes zoster 
ophthalmicus, cytomegalovirus retinitis and conjunctiva microvasculopathy were rare findings.