Dear Michael, I've been HIV+ for over sixteen years. I've taken AZT for most of that time. I'm now taking AZT+ABC. My viral load is usually below the level of detection of the viral load tests (<20 copies/mml). My CD4+ T cells are always >1,000 cells/mml.

I've been bothered by floaters in both eyes for many years. They interfere with reading. Either the floaters are getting worse, or my brains ability to ignore then is getting worse.

A recent eye exam by an expert who sees many HIV+ patients said that my eyes have nothing wrong with them.

Are eye floaters ("cotton wool spots"), or the inability of the brain to process them out of my field of vision, associated with CNS infections and/or any well-known mental illnesses?

If so, what treatments have been tried? How well do they work?

Can AZT or ABC cause floaters, or interfere with the brains ability to process visual information?

Thank you,

Tom

Tom,

I am not familiar with reports of floaters being caused by medications. Since I am not a doctor I am also unfamiliar with whether or not they may be symptoms of other CNS conditions. I suggest that you ask your primary care doctor for a referral to a neurologist who is an HIV specialist and consult with him or her about this. That way you can get the most expert advice about this condition.

Sorry not to be of more help.

Michael Shernoff, MSW