### How HIV Affects Your Eyes and How to Protect Them HIV can impact your eyes, leading to a condition called retinopathy. This condition involves damage to the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. The retina is crucial for clear vision, and damage to it can lead to vision problems. Retinopathy often occurs in people with advanced HIV or AIDS. It's the most common cause of vision loss in these individuals. Studies show that about 70% of people with advanced HIV have signs of retinopathy. Even those with less advanced HIV can show retinal changes, though less frequently. The exact reason why HIV leads to retinopathy isn't fully understood. It may be due to secondary infections, cancerous growths, inflammation, or other conditions that damage the eye. Diabetes, which is more common in people with HIV, can also contribute to retinopathy. Early signs of retinopathy include cotton-wool spots, which look like fluffy white patches on the retina. Other changes may involve breaks in the blood vessels of the retina. Often, people with retinopathy don't notice any symptoms, but an eye doctor can detect it with a special instrument. To protect your eyes, it's crucial to take your HIV medications as prescribed. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can help people with HIV live long and healthy lives, reducing the risk of developing AIDS and associated complications like retinopathy. Regular eye check-ups are also important. If you have HIV, make sure to see an eye doctor regularly and report any changes in your vision. Early detection and treatment can prevent permanent vision loss. If you also have diabetes, your risk of retinopathy is even higher. In this case, it's even more important to manage both conditions carefully and see your eye doctor regularly.