Ocular manifestations among HIV infected military personnel in Kenya
Abstract
Background: The eye is one of the commonly affected organs by I--lIV/ AIDS.
However, data on HIV/ AIDS related ocular lesions among HIV infected military
personnel is not available in Kenya.
Objectives: To determine the magnitude, describe the pattern of 1IlV/ AIDS
related ocular lesions and assess the visual impairment both in patients on
HAART and those without HAART.
Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on H] V positive
military personnel in Kenya. Consecutive HIV positive military personnel
presenting to the Comprehensive Care Clinic, whether or not on HAART, were
evaluated for ocular lesions over a two month period in the year 2008. Visual
acuity was obtained with the use of a Snellen's chart. Both anterior and posterior
segments were examined using a Haag Streit 900 slit lamp. Data was entered into a
well structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 12.0. A p-value of
< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total number of 228 (48 females and 180 males) with a mean age of 41.32
(±0.46) years were examined. The lowest CD4+ count was ranging from one to six
hundred and eighty three cells per microlitre with a mean of 169.2 (±9.5). One
hundred and sixty five (72.4%) participants had HIV related ocular lesions. Among
the lesions conjunctival microvasculopathy (57%) was the most common adnexial
finding while the most significant posterior segment finding was retinal
Microangiopathy at 47.4 %.