To investigate the clinical significance of early fundus examination for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Total of 92 patients with AIDS were randomly divided into observation group and control group, 46 cases in each group. Patients in both groups were examined and treated routinely. The patients in observation group were given the routine examination and treatment based on fundus color photography using indirect ophthalmoscope fundus examination, and the counts of CD4⁺ T cell were compared between patients in the two groups.

Among the observation group, 20 cases (43.48%) were normal, 16 cases (34.78%) were monocular and 10 cases (21.74%) were bilateral eye; while 14 cases (30.43%) with retinal hemorrhage in the fundus, 3 cases (6.52%) with retinal hemorrhage, 4 cases (8.7%) with cytomegalovirus retinitis, 5 cases (10.87%) with conjunctival retinal choroiditis, among whom, there were 12 cases, 2 cases, 3 cases and 4 cases had been controlled. The counts of CD4⁺ T cell in patients with different types of fundus lesions of the two group were with significant differences (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the average deterioration time of patients with fundus lesions decreased by 20%, with significant difference (F = 6.08, P = 0.048).

Fundus color photography combined with indirect ophthalmia could accurately detect early retinopathy of patients with AIDS. While, detected the CD4⁺ T cell count of patients with AIDS, which could provide valuable information for clinical teaching and research, and also improve the diagnostic rate of patients with AIDS.