Pupil cycle time and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

The pupil cycle time (PCT) was measured in 22 HIV-positive patients and 22 age/sex-matched controls. Of the HIV-positive group, 13 (59%) met the Centre for Disease Control classification of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining illness. There was a highly statistically significant difference in the PCT between the HIV-infected group and the control group (p < 0.0001, Student's t-test). Within the HIV-infected group there was no statistically significant difference in the PCT between those patients with full-blown AIDS and the others. This study suggests that HIV infection may be associated with subclinical ocular autonomic dysfunction even in the earlier stages of HIV infection.