Contact lens considerations for patients infected with HIV

As an eye care practitioner, one must be aware of the many sequelae of HIV disease and its impact on contact lens patients. With the progressing development of anti-HIV medications, patients infected with HIV are living longer and more productive lives. Thus a greater number of patients infected with HIV may be candidates for contact lens wear.

The eye care practitioner will play an important role in caring for patients infected with HIV who wear contact lenses. Theoretically, contact lens wear in patients infected with HIV could potentially increase their risk of corneal infection particularly from opportunistic pathogens in immuno-compromised patents.

This article reviews the common anterior segment HIV-related complications that can impact on the ability to wear contact lenses. These complications include: keratoconjunctivitis sicca, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis, molluscum contagiosum, bacterial keratitis, conjunctival microvasculopathy, and Kaposi's sarcoma. "In-office infection control" concerns will be reviewed, along with proper care and disinfection of contact lenses for patients infected with HIV.