CMV Retinitis: Symptoms and Treatment

CMV retinitis is a viral infection of the retina caused by Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and can lead to vision loss if not treated promptly.

CMV Retinitis FAQ

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What is CMV retinitis?

Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV retinitis) is a serious viral eye infection of the retina. The retina is the light-sensing layer of cells lines the back of the eye. CMV retinitis is most often found in people with weakened immune systems. What are symptoms of CMV retinitis?

How is CMV retinitis treated?

Strengthening your immune system is an important part of treating CMV retinitis. People with HIV or AIDS often improve if they are on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). There are also specific CMV retinitis treatments. Ganciclovir and other antiviral medicines can be taken in several ways:

How many cases of CMV retinitis are there?

These cases of CMV retinitis were compared to cases of infectious posterior/panuveitides, including 186 cases of ARN, 174 cases of toxoplasmic retinitis, 35 cases of syphilitic posterior uveitis and 197 cases of tubercular posterior or pan-uveitis.

What is the difference between CMV and retinitis?

The term “retinitis” means inflammation of your retina, which is the part of your eye that senses light. CMV is a necrotizing virus, meaning that the virus destroys tissue. It’s part of the herpes family of viruses. Most people get CMV at some point in their lives and don’t even know it.

What are the symptoms of CMV retinitis?

CMV retinitis symptoms can begin with a slow onset of floaters with blurred vision over a few days. This can lead to a loss of peripheral (side) vision. Sometimes the symptoms begin with a blind spot in the center of vision and can lead to a loss of central vision. The symptoms usually happen first in one eye but often progress to the other eye.