There are a number of viruses which can have a very negative impact on our vision, including the one causing CMV retinitis. This condition can heavily damage the vision of an affected individual, possibly leading even to blindness. In this article, we will take a look at a few things you should know about the condition.
What is CMV Retinitis?
The retina is the tissue, without which we would not be able to see anything and the CMV virus is one of those conditions, which can lay dormant until it can affect you. CMV stands for the Cytomegalovirus, which is a type of virus, which once it affects a person, it stays within their body for the rest of their life. It is a relatively common virus, which the body can normally defend against, however whenever the immune system of a person is weakened, the virus can activate and lead to CMV Retinitis.
It normally starts in only one eye, but eventually can affect the other eye and progresses at a different rate in each. This condition eventually can deal heavy damage to the retina, by preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching it properly, eventually attacking the optic nerve as well, which further contributes towards experiencing blindness.
What are the symptoms of CMV Retinitis?
Initially the condition starts without any real symptomes, but over the course of a few days slight discomfort might occur. The discomfort that affected people can experience, often starts with blurred vision, joined by floaters.
This condition can progress relatively fast, so a timely reaction is required for the most effective treatment. Other symptoms which can be a part include gradual loss of vision field both in the peripheral or the central vision and also blind spots, flashing lights and light sensitivity.
Who is at risk?
People who have diseases, which are impairing the immune system are at an increased risk of experiencing this condition.
If an individual is going through immunosuppressive therapy or treatments like chemotherapy, the chances of CMV Retinitis also increase.
What types of treatments are there?
The goal when experiencing this condition, is to treat it by boosting the immune system. There are various treatments available to achieve this goal. As long as the treatment starts soon, major issues with the vision can be prevented. Another good reason for quick action is because lost vision cannot be restored.
There are a number treatments available for patients diagnosed with CMV Retinitis. They most often involve antiviral medication for perioral use. They can also come in the form of injections and systems as well.
Laser surgeries can be used to strengthen the retina, once it has been affected by the virus. Apart from that, medication can also be put into your eye thanks to an implant, which would regularly release it to treat the condition.
CMV Retinitis can be very damaging to the vision of a person, so this is why a quick reaction is important whenever changes in the vision are noticed. In fact, checking your eyes regularly is bound to help you prevent many harmful conditions and mitigate the effects of others, too.
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Laser surgeries can be used to strengthen the retina, once it has been affected by the virus. Apart from that, medication can also be put into your eye thanks to an implant, which would regularly release it to treat the condition.