AIDS and Eyes

Definition:

About 75% of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) patients develop eye problems of some sort. The retina (the light-sensitive membrane at the back of the eye) is most commonly affected. Tiny retinal hemorrhages and cotton-wool spots are early signs of infection and are often detected during an eye exam. A cotton-wool spot, which looks white and fluffy, is caused by a circulatory disturbance in a tiny area of the retina. This disturbance may also cause small blood spots or hemorrhages. Since other diseases can produce the same findings, cotton-wool spots and tiny retinal hemorrhages are not diagnostic of AIDS.


Infection of the retina with the cytomegalovirus (CMV) is more serious. CMV is known as an opportunistic infection because it rarely causes disease except in people whose immune system is damaged. CMV kills retinal cells by moving from one cell to another. The entire retina may become involved within a period of two to three months. If the infection does not respond to treatment and is present in both eyes, it can lead to blindness. Other infections of the retina, including infections with the Herpes virus, the parasite Toxoplasma, and the fungus Candida, can also occur in AIDS patients.


Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in AIDS patients. It may involve the eyelids, where it appears as a non-tender purple nodule. If it affects the conjunctiva, the mucus membrane that covers the white of the eye, it appears as a bright red fleshy mass. Kaposi's sarcoma lesions of skin and mucus membrane tend to grow slowly.



In the final stages of the disease, the brain is frequently involved, either with direct infection by
HIV or with opportunistic infections. Because over 50% of the human brain is concerned in some way with the act of seeing, the eyes may show signs of brain involvement. Blurred vision, problems with eye movement, or double vision may result.

What About The AIDS Virus In Tears?The HIV virus has rarely been found in tears of AIDS patients and no known case of AIDS has ever occurred because of tear contact. However, ophthalmologists are being especially careful in cleaning contact lenses and instruments which come in contact with the tears. It is reassuring to know that all commercially available contact lens cleaning solutions tested in a recent study found to disinfect contact lenses which had been exposed to the HIV virus.



Symptoms :

1.Blurred vision .
2.Double vision .
3.Problems with eye movement
4.Growths on the eye
5.Eye pain
6.Decreased vision If you suspect that might be HIV-positive or have AIDS, contact your
doctor immediately for a complete exam.

Treatment:

Ophthalmologists are frequent consultants in the care of AIDS patients. Detection of retinal cotton-wool spots and hemorrhage can be useful in detecting AIDS. No treatment is necessary for retinal cotton-wool spots or hemorrhage because they do not affect vision. A new experimental drug, DHPG (ganciclovir), appears to stop the progression of CMV retinal infection and may prevent vision loss. However, it is not curative and may be toxic. The growth of Kaposi's sarcoma spots may be slowed by radiation treatment or surgical excision.
AIDS patients also need regular eye examinations to discover and treat glaucoma, inflammation,
cataract, and other diseases.

HIV and Aids

With no known cure, and infection rates continuing to climb, here's the lowdown on a virus you can't afford to ignore.

What is it?

To understand HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus), you have to know something about the immune system which stops us from getting ill.

1. Blood plays an important part in the body's defence against illness. It contains millions of cells, about 1% of which are white, and a particularly important type of white cell is called the t-helper cell. One of the jobs of these cells is to fight off infection.
   
2. HIV is a virus which attacks the t-helper cells and damages the body's ability to fight infection.
   
3. HIV can develop into Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome, known as Aids - in which the body is no longer able to guard against infection and disease, with fatal consequences.
   

How do you get HIV?

The HIV virus is found in infected blood, semen or vaginal fluid. In general, infection can occur in four different ways:

1. By having unprotected sex with someone who already has the HIV virus when the penis enters the vagina or anus without a condom. The risk of contracting Aids through unprotected oral sex is thought to be much lower - but transmission is possible if semen, vaginal fluid or menstrual blood comes in contact with bleeding gums or mouth infections. You can protect yourself from HIV infection by using condoms;
   
2. Using or sharing a hypodermic syringe which has already been used by someone infected by HIV, can lead to the exchange of a small amount of infected blood;
   
3. A mother who has HIV can pass it on to her baby whilst she is pregnant;
   
4. People have contracted the HIV virus from receiving contaminated blood in a blood transfusion. However, nowadays this is incredibly rare because most industrialised countries test blood for HIV prior to any transfusions.
   

There are many myths about how HIV is spread. For the record, the virus is unable to survive outside of the body. It means you CANNOT catch HIV from kissing, snogging, toilet seats, sharing towels or giving blood.

What are the symptoms?

1. Six weeks after infection, flu-like symptoms can develop for a short period of time (though some people experience no symptoms at this stage).
   
2. In a bid to combat any infection, the blood produces antibodies. Within three months of HIV infection, it is possible to test for the presence of antibodies and confirm whether that person is HIV positive (which means they have the infection) or HIV negative (which means they do not)
   
3. Someone who is HIV positive may feel perfectly well, even though the virus is still active within the body - destroying new blood cells.
   
4. The virus is also infectious from the moment it is contracted. This means there's a risk that someone with HIV can be unaware of their condition for some time, and unwittingly expose a partner to the virus through unprotected sex.
   
5. Over time, the number of T-helpers in the blood will slowly drop - weakening the immune system. Without treatment, to slow or stabilize the progress of the infection, that person will start showing symptoms of Aids.
   
6. On average, it can take nine years for an untreated HIV infection to develop into Aids.
   
7. The onset of Aids is associated with a wide-range of symptoms. This is because the body's immune system has become so weak that it is vulnerable to all kinds of infection and conditions. Common complaints include fatigue, weight loss, chest and skin infections, diarrhoea, night sweats and ulcers. Eventually, the immune system can no longer resist, which generally proves fatal.
   

Treatment

1. To date, there is no cure for HIV or Aids. Treatment focuses on slowing down or stabilising the progress of the HIV infection, and managing the symptoms of any associated infection or complaint.
   
2. Research into tackling HIV and Aids is big business, and new drugs often appear on the market.
   
3. A range of drugs and medication are available for the treatment of HIV. What is used differs from patient to patient, while the virus itself can often become resistant to certain drugs.
   
4. Counselling is often of great benefit, especially to those who lack support among family and friends. Support groups for people with HIV and Aids can also help to put you in touch with people going through a similar experience, which may help you to cope. Consult your GP for more information.
   

Reduce your risk of infection. Make sex safer by using condoms every time.