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Cmv Retinitis Diagnosis

CMV retinitis, also known as cytomegalovirus, is a virus that causes inflammation in the retina of the eye. The virus is related to the herpes virus and is present in most everyone, but our immune systems are able to fight the virus. Those with compromised immune systems may not be able to fight the infection, allowing it to spread and damage the eye.

  1. Causes

    • Cytomegalovirus normally will cause no symptoms in healthy individuals. Weakened immune systems caused by AIDS, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants and organ transplants allow the virus to spread and cause infection in the eye, resulting in CMV retinitis.

    Symptoms

    • CMV retinitis infection symptoms include floaters, which are dark spots or strands in your field of vision, blurred vision, blind spots, a decrease in vision and light flashes. The infection typically starts in one eye, but often progresses to the other eye. Blindness can result in 4-6 months without treatment.

    Diagnosis

    • Your eye professional will dilate your eyes and perform a procedure called ophthalmoscopy to view your retina. He will be able to see any damage and signs of CMV retinitis. Blood and urine tests may also be performed to reveal substances from the infection. A tissue biopsy may be performed to check for virus particles.

    Treatment

    • The goal of treatment is to slow progression of the disease. Anti-viral medications such as Cytovene, Foscavir and Vistide are prescribed and taken orally, intravenously or by direct injection into the eye. The drug therapy is normally a long-term treatment.

    Considerations

    • CMV retinitis progresses even with treatment. The medications slow the progression by stopping the virus from replicating, but cannot kill the virus itself. Other complications can arise from the disease and from treatment itself. Retinal detachment and blindness may be caused by the infection. Damage to kidneys and low white blood cell count can be caused by the anti-viral medications.

      Those with HIV-AIDS or other immune-suppressing diseases should have regular eye examinations to check for CMV retinitis.

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