[Causes of visual impairment among people living with HIV at the University Hospital of Libreville].

Introduction: Few data exist on the issue of visual impairment (VI) in people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Objective: To identify the causes of visual impairment among people living with HIV (PLHIV) at the University Hospital of Libreville.

Population and methods: This was an observational study of 737 people living with HIV (PLHIV). The parameters studied were age (year), gender, CD4 count, age of infection, use of antiretroviral therapy as well as visual acuity from far and near (CMI-11) and cause of VI.

Results: Out of a population of 737 PLHIV, 75 (101 eyes) had VI, representing a hospital prevalence of 10.2% (n = 75/737). VI was bilateral for 34.7% (n = 26/75) of them. The main aetiology were refractive disorders (47.5%). Uveitis affected 16.8% of the number of eyes, of which 12.9% were of toxoplasmic origin. Other causes were cataracts (11.9%) and cytomegalovirus retinitis (10.9%). Two patients experienced early macular degeneration and two others with macular ischemia. Bilateral macular hemorrhage and occlusion of the central artery of the retina were also observed.

Conclusion: One in 10 PLHIV is visually impaired. In half of the cases, the pathologies that provide this handicap, are opportunistic disease with ocular toxoplasmosis in the foreground. Routine screening may improve visual prognosis.