CMV (Cytomegalovirus) is a DNA virus in the family Herpesviridae. Cytomegaloviruses are known for producing large cells with nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions. Such inclusions are called an "owl's eye" effect. Cytomegalovirus retinitis is an inflammation of the retina of the eye and can lead to blindness. Species see text Cytomegalovirus (CMV), is a genus of Herpes viruses; in humans the species is known as Human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5). ... A DNA virus is a virus that has DNA as its genetic material and does not use an RNA intermediate during replication. ... Genera Subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae    Simplexvirus    Varicellovirus    Mardivirus    Iltovirus Subfamily Betaherpesvirinae    Cytomegalovirus    Muromegalovirus    Roseolovirus Subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae    Lymphocryptovirus    Rhadinovirus Unassigned    Ictalurivirus The Herpesviridae is a family of DNA viruses that cause diseases in humans and animals. ... Human eye cross-sectional view. ... See also Blindness (novel) Blindness can be defined physiologically as the condition of lacking visual perception. ...

While CMV is found in almost everyone, and is usually fought off by our immune systems, for people who are immunocompromised, by diseases, transplants, or chemotherapy the virus is not adequately destroyed and can cause damage to the eye and the rest of the body. HIV positive persons are most at risk, especially when the CD4 cell count decreases. CMV is the most common type of virus that infects those who are HIV positive. A request has been made on Wikipedia for this article to be deleted in accordance with the deletion policy. ... Immunosuppression is the medical suppression of the immune system. ... Chemotherapy is the use of chemical substances to treat disease. ... The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a frequently mutating retrovirus that attacks the human immune system and which has been shown to cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). ... CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) is a molecule that is expressed on the surface of T helper cells (as well as regulatory T cells and dendritic cells). ...

It affects the eye in about 30% of the cases by causing damage to the retina. Symptoms can include blurred vision, eye pain, photophobia, redness, and blindness. It may affect just one eye at first, but then may spread to the other. Because the virus is so threatening to vision, it is usually treated by a vitreo-retinal surgeon, by anti-virals such as ganciclovir or foscarnet, which can be taken orally, intravenously, injected directly into the eye, or through an intravitreal implant. For the pathologic fear of light see the article on -phobia Photophobia (also light sensitivity) is a symptom of excessive sensitivity to light and the aversion to sunlight or well-lit places. ... Ganciclovir sodium (Cytovene®) is an antiviral medication used to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. ...