BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCMV retinitisCytomegalovirus retinitisCytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is a viral infection of the retina of the eye resulting in inflammation. Causes CMV is a member of a group of herpes-type viruses. Infection with CMV is very common. Most people are exposed to CMV in their lifetime, but typically only those with weakened immune systems become ill from CMV infection.Serious CMV infections can occur in people who have weakened immune systems as a result of:HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bone marrow transplantation Bone marrow transplantationA bone marrow transplant is a procedure to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft, fatt...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chemotherapy ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Medicines that suppress the immune system Organ transplant Symptoms Some people with CMV retinitis have no symptoms.If there are symptoms, they may include:Blind spots Blurred vision and other vision problems Blurred vision and other vision problemThere are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article FloatersFloatersThe floating specks you sometimes see in front of your eyes are not on the surface of your eyes but inside them. They are made up of bits of cell de...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Retinitis usually begins in one eye, but often progresses to the other eye. Without treatment, damage to the retina can lead to blindness in 4 to 6 months or less. Exams and Tests CMV retinitis is diagnosed through an ophthalmologic exam. Dilation of the pupils and ophthalmoscopy will show signs of CMV retinitis.OphthalmoscopyOphthalmoscopy is an examination of the back part of the eye (fundus), which includes the retina, optic disc, choroid, and blood vessels.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CMV infection may be diagnosed with blood or urine tests that look for substances specific to the infection. However, an infection may be present even with a negative blood or urine test. CMV can affect specific organs, such as the retina or gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and blood and urine tests can be negative. A tissue biopsy can detect the viral infection and presence of CMV virus particles, but this may be done only for some organs (GI tract) and not others (eyes).BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to stop the virus from replicating and to stabilize or restore vision and prevent blindness. Long-term treatment is often needed. Medicines may be given by mouth (orally), through a vein (intravenously), or injected directly into the eye (intravitreously). Outlook (Prognosis) Even with treatment, the disease can worsen to blindness. This progression may happen because the virus becomes resistant to the antiviral medicines so the medicines are no longer effective, or because the person's immune system has deteriorated further.CMV retinitis may also lead to retinal detachment, in which the retina detaches from the back of the eye, causing blindness.Retinal detachmentRetinal detachment is a separation of the light-sensitive membrane (retina) in the back of the eye from its supporting layers.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Complications that may result include:Kidney function impairment (from medicines used to treat the condition) Low white blood cell count (from medicines used to treat the condition)White blood cell countA WBC count is a blood test to measure the number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood. It is a part of a complete blood count (CBC). WBCs are a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional If symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms develop, contact your health care provider.People with HIV/AIDS (especially those with a very low CD4 count) who have vision problems should make an appointment right away for an eye exam.Low CD4 countHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention A CMV infection usually only causes symptoms in people with a weakened immune system. Certain medicines (such as cancer therapy) and diseases (such as HIV/AIDS) can cause a weakened immune system. People with AIDS who have a CD4 count of less than 250 cells/microliter (cells/µL) or 250 cells/cubic millimeter (cells/mm3) should be examined regularly for this condition, even if they do not have symptoms. If you had CMV retinitis in the past, ask your provider if you need treatment to prevent its return.Open ReferencesReferencesBritt WJ. Cytomegalovirus. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 137.Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yannuzzi LA. Infection. In: Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yannuzzi LA, eds. Retinal Atlas, The. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 5.AllVideoImagesTogEye - illustration The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer (sclera, or white of the eye, and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (retina) is sensory nerve tissue that is light sensitive. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.EyeillustrationCMV retinitis - illustration Cytomegalovirus is a large herpes-type virus commonly found in humans that can cause serious infections in people with impaired immunity. Chorioretinitis, which may cause blindness, is treated with antiviral medications, which may stop the replication of the virus but will not destroy it.CMV retinitisillustrationCMV (cytomegalovirus) - illustration Cytomegalovirus is a large herpes-type virus commonly found in humans that can cause serious infections in people with impaired immunity. The infection may result in pneumonia, gastroenteritis, retinitis or encephalitis. Antiviral medicines may stop the replication of the virus, but will not destroy it.CMV (cytomegalovirus)illustrationEye - illustration The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer (sclera, or white of the eye, and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (retina) is sensory nerve tissue that is light sensitive. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.EyeillustrationCMV retinitis - illustration Cytomegalovirus is a large herpes-type virus commonly found in humans that can cause serious infections in people with impaired immunity. Chorioretinitis, which may cause blindness, is treated with antiviral medications, which may stop the replication of the virus but will not destroy it.CMV retinitisillustrationCMV (cytomegalovirus) - illustration Cytomegalovirus is a large herpes-type virus commonly found in humans that can cause serious infections in people with impaired immunity. The infection may result in pneumonia, gastroenteritis, retinitis or encephalitis. Antiviral medicines may stop the replication of the virus, but will not destroy it.CMV (cytomegalovirus)illustrationA Closer Look Shingles and chickenpox (Varicella-zoster virus) - InDepth(In-Depth) Tests for CMV retinitis OphthalmoscopyRelated Information Antibody(Special Topic)Immune response(Special Topic)HIV/AIDS(Condition)Systemic(Special Topic)Retinal detachment(Condition)WBC count(Medical Test) Review Date: 12/31/2023 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. 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CMV retinitisCytomegalovirus retinitisCytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is a viral infection of the retina of the eye resulting in inflammation. Causes CMV is a member of a group of herpes-type viruses. Infection with CMV is very common. Most people are exposed to CMV in their lifetime, but typically only those with weakened immune systems become ill from CMV infection.Serious CMV infections can occur in people who have weakened immune systems as a result of:HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bone marrow transplantation Bone marrow transplantationA bone marrow transplant is a procedure to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft, fatt...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chemotherapy ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Medicines that suppress the immune system Organ transplant Symptoms Some people with CMV retinitis have no symptoms.If there are symptoms, they may include:Blind spots Blurred vision and other vision problems Blurred vision and other vision problemThere are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article FloatersFloatersThe floating specks you sometimes see in front of your eyes are not on the surface of your eyes but inside them. They are made up of bits of cell de...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Retinitis usually begins in one eye, but often progresses to the other eye. Without treatment, damage to the retina can lead to blindness in 4 to 6 months or less. Exams and Tests CMV retinitis is diagnosed through an ophthalmologic exam. Dilation of the pupils and ophthalmoscopy will show signs of CMV retinitis.OphthalmoscopyOphthalmoscopy is an examination of the back part of the eye (fundus), which includes the retina, optic disc, choroid, and blood vessels.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CMV infection may be diagnosed with blood or urine tests that look for substances specific to the infection. However, an infection may be present even with a negative blood or urine test. CMV can affect specific organs, such as the retina or gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and blood and urine tests can be negative. A tissue biopsy can detect the viral infection and presence of CMV virus particles, but this may be done only for some organs (GI tract) and not others (eyes).BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goal of treatment is to stop the virus from replicating and to stabilize or restore vision and prevent blindness. Long-term treatment is often needed. Medicines may be given by mouth (orally), through a vein (intravenously), or injected directly into the eye (intravitreously). Outlook (Prognosis) Even with treatment, the disease can worsen to blindness. This progression may happen because the virus becomes resistant to the antiviral medicines so the medicines are no longer effective, or because the person's immune system has deteriorated further.CMV retinitis may also lead to retinal detachment, in which the retina detaches from the back of the eye, causing blindness.Retinal detachmentRetinal detachment is a separation of the light-sensitive membrane (retina) in the back of the eye from its supporting layers.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Complications that may result include:Kidney function impairment (from medicines used to treat the condition) Low white blood cell count (from medicines used to treat the condition)White blood cell countA WBC count is a blood test to measure the number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood. It is a part of a complete blood count (CBC). WBCs are a...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional If symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms develop, contact your health care provider.People with HIV/AIDS (especially those with a very low CD4 count) who have vision problems should make an appointment right away for an eye exam.Low CD4 countHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention A CMV infection usually only causes symptoms in people with a weakened immune system. Certain medicines (such as cancer therapy) and diseases (such as HIV/AIDS) can cause a weakened immune system. People with AIDS who have a CD4 count of less than 250 cells/microliter (cells/µL) or 250 cells/cubic millimeter (cells/mm3) should be examined regularly for this condition, even if they do not have symptoms. If you had CMV retinitis in the past, ask your provider if you need treatment to prevent its return.Open ReferencesReferencesBritt WJ. Cytomegalovirus. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 137.Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yannuzzi LA. Infection. In: Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yannuzzi LA, eds. Retinal Atlas, The. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 5.