Abstract:
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ocular disorders in HIV positive patients attending the Cape Coast Teaching
Hospital, Ghana. Methods. A cross-sectional study using systematic random sampling was conducted on 295 HIV positive patients.
Data collection consisted of semistructured questionnaires, laboratory investigation, medical profile, and ophthalmic examination.
Statistical association tests including 𝜒2 , independent 𝑡-test, and ANOVA were done. A 𝑝 value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically
significant. Results. Of the 295 participants, 205 (69.5%) were on antiretroviral therapy while 90 (30.3%) were not on therapy.
Majority of the participants (162, 54.9%) were in clinical stage two, followed by stages three (68, 23.1%), one (62, 21%), and four
(3, 1%), respectively. The overall prevalence of ocular disorders was 5.8%. The most common HIV related ocular disorder was HIV
retinal microvasculopathy (58.8%), followed by herpes zoster ophthalmicus and Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis, both representing
11.8% of ocular disorders seen. Cytomegalovirus retinitis, Bell’s palsy, and optic neuritis were the least common (5.9%). CMV
retinitis recorded the highest viral load of 1,474,676 copies/mL and mean CD4 count of 136 cells/mm3 . The mean CD4 count
for participants with HIV related ocular disorders was significantly lower compared to participants without disorders (𝑡 = 2.5,
𝑝 = 0.012). Participants with ocular disorders also recorded significantly higher mean viral loads than those who did not have ocular
disorders (𝑡 = 2.8, 𝑝 = 0.006). Conclusion. Lower CD4 counts and high viral load copies were associated with the manifestation of
HIV related ocular disorders.
