Ocular manifestations of HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS affects millions of people worldwide. In the early stages of epidemic, eyes were affected because the CD4 T-lymphocytes count of HIV-infected patients dropped rapidly. Today, with the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, HIV-positive individuals live longer with a better quality of life. However, because a cure has not been found, many patients with HIV will develop ocular complications at some point. Ophthalmologists play an important role in the care of these patients. We must be prepared to work as part of a multidisciplinary staff, helping to understand the causes and try to achieve the best management of disease in order to prevent blindness. Most HIV-related ocular manifestations are discussed in this article, with a review of studies within the past 2 years. We hope government authorities, pharmaceutical industries, researchers and people from all nations stand together with two goals--less suffering and definitive cure.