Vision recovery in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with optic neuropathy treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy: A case series

Abstract

We describe three patients with bilateral, presumed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced optic neuropathy. The above diagnosis was made by exclusion of infectious agents and neoplasms by detailed clinical and laboratory investigations. All patients had decreased visual acuity, pale optic discs and constriction of visual fields. Improvement was documented in all three patients for visual acuity and in one patient for visual fields following treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Optic neuropathy in HIV-positive patients does not necessarily carry a poor prognosis even when a treatable cause is not found. This article emphasizes the effectiveness of HAART in presumed HIV-induced optic neuropathy.

Keywords

• Highly active antiretroviral therapy
• human immunodeficiency virus
• optic neuropathy