AIDS Optic Neuropathy

Acquired immunity syndrome (AIDS) was first reported in the United States in 1981, but there are many that believe that it was around unrecognized since about 1960. In the 'BOs, the number of cases reported has Increased exponentially. There are probably about 100,000 Americans with the clinical diagnosis of AIDS. Most of these patients will die within two years. A much large number have AIDS related complex (ARC); approximately one third of ARC patients develop AIDS within five years of their diagnosis. An even larger group of patients have a positive serology to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV]. While this positive serology strongly suggests that they have been infected by HIV, their clinical state and prognosis remains In doubt. The issue is one of profound human, social and economic significance since there are esti mates of up to 2.5 million Americans with a positive serology to HIV.