The ophthalmological features of AIDS and AIDS related disorders

The ocular findings in 38 patients infected by the Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type III (HTLV III) are reviewed. Twenty patients were suffering from the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and 18 from the HTLV III related disease Persistent Generalised Lymphadenopathy (PGL). Cotton wool spots were found in the retinae of 8 patients at some stage of their disease and the prognostic significance of these is discussed. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Retinitis was an ocular complication in eight of the patients with AIDS. The therapeutic effects of a new anti-viral drug, di-hydroxy propoxymethyl guanine (DHPG), are discussed.