Dorothy N. Friedberg, M.D., Ph.D. is currently involved in clinical research on the ocular complications of AIDS. As part of this work Dr. Friedberg and her co-investigators are participating in several national multicenter protocols sponsored by industry and by the National Eye Institute. These projects are investigating medications for the treatment of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis which if untreated can produce retinal destruction and blindness. Dr. Friedberg is also studying the intraocular pressure in HIV-infected patients without obvious eye disease in an attempt to understand the etiology of the reported low pressures in this group of patients.

The investigators have done some preliminary electrophysiological evaluations in HIV-infected patients. Even in patients without retinitis or retinal microangiopathy there are abnormalities in both the ERG and dark adaption. Dr. Friedberg and her co-investigators are planning to expand these studies to include evaluation of long term non progressors, patients infected with HIV who do not go on to develop AIDS at the usual rate. A strong commitment to basic ophthalmic research will allow them to expand the scope of investigations.

The investigators are currently working with several opthamologists to develop an ocular HIV study group to facilitate communications between opthamologists both in the US and abroad who are involved in patient care and/or research in ocular HIV.

Representative