Abstract:

In the study of HIV-associated ocular disease, tears are useful tools with many advantages including easy to collect and analyze, and of great research value. At present, the tear collection methods which have been successfully applied to HIV/AIDS researches including reflective tear collection, capillary glass siphon collection and Schirmer test paper collection, and other approaches learned from various areas (such as tear flushing collection). Furthermore, virological characteristics and cytokine analysis, which are two major aspects involved in the study of tears of HIV/AIDS patients. Qualitative and quantitative studies can clarify the infectiousness of HIV virus in tears and explore the HIV reservoirs. By studying the level of cytokines in tears, it is helpful to understand the pathogenesis and clinical features of HIV virus in eyes. Tears in HIV/AIDS patients contain only a very small amount of HIV virus infection dose, so the risk of HIV infection through tear contact is very small. But it is speculated that the lacrimal gland and tear related tissues may be another repository of HIV virus. (Int Rev Ophthalmol,  2018,  42:   125-128)