A prospective evaluation of ophthalmologic findings in 26 patients (25 men and one woman) with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome disclosed that 19 patients had significant ocular abnormalities. These included isolated retinal hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, cytomegalovirus retinitis, acute retinal necrosis, cranial nerve palsies, and orbital Kaposi's sarcoma. Hemorrhages and cotton-wool spots appeared and disappeared spontaneously. Cytomegalovirus retinitis and acute retinal necrosis were progressive and destructive. The fundus findings did not correlate with the patient's general clinical status.