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FAQs

What about HIV in the tears?
While the HIV virus can be found in tears of people with AIDS, no cases of AIDS have ever been reported from tear contact. Ophthalmologists are especially careful in cleaning their lenses and instruments which come in contact with the tears.

How does AIDS affect the eye?

Cotton Wool Spots: The most common eye problem from AIDS doesn’t threaten vision. Your eye has an inner layer called the retina, which sends images to the brain and helps us see. AIDS can cause tiny amounts of bleeding and white spots in the retina. These white spots are called “cotton wool spots” because of the way they look.
CMV Retinitis: A serious eye infection of the retina is caused by CMV, the Cytomegalovirus (CMV). About 20–30% of people with AIDS have CMV. Most infections happen when the number of T–cells gets dangerously low, usually under 40. CMV can harm your vision permanently. Call an ophthalmologist right away if you see:
- Floating spots or “Spiderwebs”.
- Flashing lights.
- Blind spots or blurred vision.
Red Eye: People with AIDS sometimes have red eyes, infections which last for a long time. A disease called shingles can occur more commonly in people with HIV.
Detached Retina: Sometimes CMV causes the retina to separate from the back of the eye. A detached retina can cause a serious vision loss. The only way to attach it again is to have an eye operation.
Kaposi’s Sarcoma: Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a kind of tumor that looks like purple–red spots. In the eyes, it can look like a bump on the eyelid or a spot on the white part of the eye. KS can look frightening, but it grows slowly and does not harm the eye.

What is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. It is sometimes called “Lazy eye”. When one eye develops good vision while the other does not, the eye with poorer vision is called Amblyopic. Usually, only one eye is affected by amblyopia. The condition is common, affecting approximately 2 or 3 out of every 100 people. The best time to correct amblyopia is during infancy or early childhood. Parents must be aware of this potential problem if they want to protect their child’s vision.

How does normal vision develop?
Newborn infants are able to see, but as they use their eyes during the first months of life, vision improves. During early childhood years, the visual system changes quickly and vision continues to develop. If a child cannot use his or her eyes normally, vision does not develop properly and may even decrease. After the first nine years of life, the visual system is usually fully developed and usually cannot be changed. The development of equal vision in both eyes is necessary for normal vision. Many occupations are not open to people who have good vision in one eye only.

If the vision in one eye should be lost later in life from an accident or illness, it is essential that the other eye have normal vision. Without normal vision in at least one eye, a person is visually impaired. For all of these reasons, amblyopia must be detected and treated as early as possible.

When should vision be tested?
It is recommended that all children have their vision checked by their pediatrician, family physician or ophthalmologist (medical eye doctor) at or before their fourth birthday. Most physicians test vision as part of a child’s medical examination. They may refer a child to an ophthalmologist if there is any sign of an eye condition. New techniques make it possible to test vision in infants and young children. If there is a family history of misaligned eyes, childhood cataracts or a serious eye disease, an ophthalmologist can check vision even earlier than age three.

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