Proof-of-concept study on Bruch’s membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and optic nerve head morphology in people living with HIV

This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that all HIV factors (especially CD4 count) may influence ONH morphology that can be used as potential structural biomarkers. These findings highlight the potential of optic nerve head measurements as biomarkers for assessing the structural impact of HIV and ART. ART-treated individuals exhibited ONH thinning, while ART-naïve participants showed thicker nerve fibre layers, possibly reflecting early inflammatory or compensatory mechanisms before treatment initiation. these preliminary findings support further investigation to validate these associations and explore their clinical relevance.