Outcomes of cytomegalovirus retinitis-related retinal detachment surgery in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients in an Asian population

BACKGROUND: This study reports the surgical outcomes of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) -related retinal detachments(RD) in an Asian population. METHODS: Review of CMVR characteristics, surgical outcomes and complications in 19 eyes with CMVR-related RD that underwent surgery from January 2000 to June 2011. RESULTS: CMVR was inactive in 73.7% of the eyes at time of surgery. Anatomical success was achieved in 14 eyes. Seven eyes (36.8%) had improvement of two or more lines in visual acuity (VA) and 8 eyes (42.1%) maintained VA. Thirteen eyes presented with worse than 6/120 vision, with 30.8% of them achieving ambulatory vision or better. Five eyes had re-detachments. Median durations from CMVR and immune recovery uveitis (IRU) diagnoses to RD were 2.7 and 1.0 months respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for CMVR-related RD is associated with good anatomical outcomes with most eyes maintaining or having improved vision. CMVR lesion size of <50% retinal area is associated with better outcomes. Eyes with CMVR and IRU require close monitoring for RD.