Ocular aids: Experience at the Guinness Ophthalmic unit,Kaduna,Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To determine the pattern of presentation of ocular manifestations in HIV/AIDS and the modes of management employed. Method: This collaborative, hospital based retrospective study between the Ophthalmology and Immunology units covered the period between January-December, 2004. Results: 1020 new patients were seen during this period with HIV/AIDS, of whom 125(12.3%) cases presented with some form of ocular complications, made up of 74 females (59.2%) and 51 males (40.8%). Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (HZO), was the commonest form of presentation in 87 (69.6%) patients, followed by ocular tumours in 17 (13.6%) patients and cotton-wool spots in 5 (4%) patients. Conclusion: There is still a great need for the definitive diagnoses of ocular lesions, and retinal lesions in particular as well as appropriate treatment of ocular HIV/AIDS.