3215 Evaluation of HIV+patients white-noise field campimetry

m Numerous studies have documcntcd the high frcqucncy rate of the HIV-infection of the eye The first disorccr 1s a microvascular disease of the conjunctiva and of thg retina. The most common rebnal mamfcstations are cotton-wool spots or retinal microaneurysrm This study was performed to find out whether the white-noise field campimetry shows evidences of ocular ml<rocirculation changes in HIV-infected patients without morphological vascular changes.-23 patients (m:f = 158; age range 22-53 years; mean age 34,7*7 years) with HIV-Infection and without opportunistic infection were examined between 1994 and 1995. In order to cvaluatc the functional changes in ocular physiology, we examined the following parameters: morphologtcal status, visual acuity, intraocular prcssuw, perimetry (TAP 2000 ct, Oculus), white-noise campimetry (TEC, Oculus), immunodcficiency state by T-lymphocyt (CD4) CO " " t. w Morphologically, 16 out of 23 patients (70%) had m~c~ovascula~ abnormalities of the conjunctiva, include dilated ~csscls at the limbus, Isolated vascular segments, vessel segments of irwgular caliber and sludging of blood flow, on both eyes. The visual acuity, the intraocular pressure and the cup/disc-ratio were within normal ranges. Visual field examination was unremarkable in 19 out of 23 patients (83%). Whereas 4 patwnts showed relative visual fteld defects in one or both eyes. On the white-noise field cam&wtry, 15 out of 23 patients (65%) had scotomas in one or both eyes. Scotomas were not stable m 12 patients (80%). None of them showed morphological retinal changes. 3 paticnta with no stable scotomas reporting having a coloured blue or violet s:otoma. On the other hand, 3 patients (20%) with !,tablc scotoma had cotton-wool spats and a relative scotoma in the visual field. All patients with scotomas in the campimetry also had microvascular abnormalities of the conjunctiva. Conelusion: The authors suggest that the white-noise field campimetry is a non-invasive method in evaluating the mi:rovasculai abnormalities in HIV-infected patients before morphological changes of the fundus could be seen.