Inclusion Criteria

Patients must have:

• Documented HIV infection.
• Recent diagnosis of CMV retinitis, by ophthalmoscopic appearance, that requires induction therapy.
• No corneal, lens, or vitreous opacification that precludes examination of the fundi.
• No evidence of other end organ CMV infection.
• No evidence of tuberculous, diabetic, or hypertensive retinopathy.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

• Clinically significant cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, gastrointestinal or renal impairment that would prevent adequate voluntary oral hydration (e.g., intubation, coma, status post-gastrectomy, colon resection, gastrointestinal tumors, malabsorption, chronic diarrhea) OR with which hydration would be hazardous (e.g., congestive heart failure).
• Known allergy to foscarnet or related compounds.
• Considered noncompliant or unreliable for study participation.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

• Any investigational drug.
• Potentially nephrotoxic drugs (e.g., amphotericin B, aminoglycosides, cisplatin).

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

• Any investigational drug within 28 days prior to study entry.
• Potentially nephrotoxic drugs (e.g., amphotericin B, aminoglycosides, cisplatin) within 7 days prior to study entry.