Abstract
Purpose:
To assess visual function and features of the corneal endothelium in HIV-infected adults by psychophysical tests and corneal specular microscopy.
Methods:
Fifty-four HIV-infected men and 43 HIV-negative control subjects were enrolled from the prospective AGEhIV cohort study on age-associated non-communicable co-morbidity in Amsterdam. All participants underwent a standard ophthalmic examination. Visual function was assessed by Pelli Robson and Mars contrast sensitivity charts, C-Quant straylight meter, Lanthony Desaturated Panel D-15, Rarebit Fovea Test and Frequency Doubling Perimetry. The Topcon specular microscope SP-1P was used to assess features of the corneal endothelium in a subset of the study participants (25 HIV-infected patients and 12 HIV-negative controls). Only right eyes were included for analysis by multivariable regression models.
Results:
Correcting for age, we did not detect significant differences in visual function between HIV-infected individuals and controls, with the only exception of a slightly higher straylight value in the patient group. Corneal endothelium parameters were also similar between the two groups.<br /> In the patients, we observed significant associations between a longer duration of HIV-infection and features of the corneal endothelium consistent with aging (lower endothelial cell density, higher variation in cell size and an increased average cell size). Patients with a prior diagnosis of AIDS had a significant larger average cell size than patients who never had developed AIDS.
Conclusions:
Visual function and corneal endothelium parameters are not significantly different between patients with well-suppressed HIV-infection and healthy controls, although a longer duration of HIV is associated with changes in the corneal endothelium consistent with aging.