There would be many complications in the eye. One of the worst fears of patients with eye problems would be blindness. This article will focus on CMV retinitis treatment and how to detect it.
What is CMV retinitis?
Cytomegalovirus retinitis, or CMV retinitis for short, is a viral disease that would target the retina. It is a very serious viral infection that may result in blindness. It would usually be most likely to attack people who have a weak immune system. People with HIV/AIDS, cancer, leukemia, and sometimes people who have had organ transplants.
Symptoms of CMV retinitis
The earliest reported symptoms would be blurred vision and floaters over a few days. This would lead to loss of peripheral vision later on. If the blind spot would begin at the center, more likely than not, the patient will develop a loss of central vision. The symptoms would usually only happen in one eye first, but would quickly progress to the good eye later on.
If these symptoms are ignored, and there is no medical intervention or treatment given to the patient, the CM retinitis would go on to destroy the optic nerve, causing permanent blindness.
CMV retinitis treatment options
One integral and crucial part of CMV retinitis treatment would be that the patient’s immune system has to be strengthened. If a patient with HIV/AIDS would be under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), their CMV retinitis will have more chances of improving.
There would also be some medication that can be taken by mouth, injected through a vein or eye, or as an implant in the eye that can give the medication at certain times. An ophthalmologist may also recommend laser surgery to the affected eye, to be able to strengthen the retina.
However, the sad part is that the vision that has been lost to CMV retinitis cannot be restored, even after treatment. The best possible outcome would be that the infection would be stopped, and further damage can be controlled. It would also be possible for the reoccurrence of the infection to occur. This is why you have to keep a watchful eye, literally, for the symptoms, should they occur again. Also, it would be a good idea to have regular checkups with your ophthalmologist to keep any type of infection in your eyes at bay, and to make sure that early detection and treatment can be administered if the need arises.
What to do if you think you have CMV retinitis
It would be a good idea to consult with an ophthalmologist if you are experiencing any of the symptoms that were mentioned above. These doctors would be able to examine your eyes and tell you if you have anything to worry about or not.
During the eye exam with the ophthalmologist, dilating eye drops will be put into your eye, and from there, your pupils will enlarge. The doctor will take a look into specific areas of the eye, including your retina, to look for signs of damage that is caused by CMV retinitis.
