HIV- and AIDS-related Ocular Manifestations in Tanzanian Patients

Although around 70% of HIV+ cases used to have ocular manifestations, the late reporting of cases often results in severe forms of ocular morbidity that would otherwise have been prevented. The objective of this study was to describe the ocular manifestations of HIV and AIDS-related patients who had been admitted to TM Jafferji Hospital, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Proven cases of HIV were recruited in this study. Detailed slit lamp examination and fundoscopy using a +90D lens were carried out in all cases after thoroughly dilating the pupil with 1% Tropicamide eye drops.

Around 90% of the recruited cases were in clinical stage III and IV HIV. The notable ocular manifestations included micro-vasculopathy of the retina in 25%, uveitis in 8%, CMV retinitis in 7%, neuro-ophthalmic manifestation in 6%, Herpes zoster ophthalmicus in 5%, Kaposi's sarcoma in 3% and conjunctival carcinoma in 2% of cases. Fifty-three percent of the cases had other anterior segment disorders like conjunctivitis, blepharitis and corneal ulcers.

Most of the cases recruited in our study were in the late stages of HIV. A significantly high number of cases (70%) had ocular manifestations. Around 53% had additional anterior segment disorders like conjunctivitis, blepharitis and corneal ulcers.