RETINAL-DETACHMENT IN AIDS-RELATED CYTOMEGALOVIRUS RETINITIS

Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cytomegal ovirus retinitis (CMVR) are surviving longer due to the use of virosta tic medicines and improved treatment of-opportunistic infections, As a result, retinal detachment is likely to become an increasingly common cause of visual morbidity in these patients, The incidence and outcom e of retinal detachment complicating CMVR was studied at two London AI DS centres, Patients with CMVR were identified prospectively and under went standard treatment. Retinal detachments were diagnosed during reg ular follow-up, if retinal reattachment surgery was performed, a stand ard procedure of vitrectomy and silicone oil internal tamponade was em ployed, Of 147 patients with CMVR, 41 (28%) developed retinal detachme nts (47 eyes), Forty-three detachments were rhegmatogenous and 4 were exudative. Fifteen eyes of 9 patients with rhegmatogenous detachments underwent retinal reattachment surgery, Of these, visual acuity remain ed stable or improved in 12 eyes (80%) in the immediate post-operative period, At the last clinic visit, 8 eyes (53%) maintained a visual ac uity of 6/60 or better, The visual results of surgery are good in sele cted patients, bearing in mind the progressive nature of the underlyin g disease and poor life expectancy.