RETINAL DETACHMENTS IN PATIENTS WITH AIDS AND CMV RETINOPATHY - A ROLE FOR LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION

A retrospective review of all patients with a cytomegalovirus (CMV) re lated retinal detachment and HIV infection managed at the ocular immun ology clinic at St Vincent's Hospital between January 1985 and June 19 92 was performed. Over this period 142 patients with CMV retinopathy w ere managed and 17 eyes from 14 of these patients developed a retinal detachment related to CMV retinopathy. Fourteen eyes from 11 of these patients were treated surgically with combinations of laser photocoagu lation, cryopexy, scleral buckling, vitrectomy, and silicone oil tampo nade. The use of laser photocoagulation alone in five patients resulte d in an excellent visual outcome. The majority of patients (90.9%) ben efited from surgery in that vision was either stabilised or improved.