Treatment:

The objective of treatment is to prevent the disease from progressing, which can lead to blindness. Therapy is often long term. Medications given by mouth (orally), through a vein (intravenous), or injected directly into the eye (intraviteous) are available for treatment.

Expectations (prognosis):

The disease will often progress, even with treatment, because antiviral medications stop the replication of the virus but do not destroy it. CMV itself suppresses the immune system and may worsen the symptoms of other causes of immunosuppression.

Complications:

• Blindness
• Kidney impairment (from drugs used to treat the condition)
• Low white blood cell count (from drugs used to treat the condition)
• Retinal detachment

Calling your health care provider:

If symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms develop, call your health care provider.

People with AIDS (especially those with a very low CD4 count) who have visual disturbances should seek medical attention and arrange for an exam.