HIV via spit in eye with potential blood in spit?

[jacquepresto]

Doctor,

My friend was sitting at a bar with a guy that has sex with many prostitutes. Suppose the man is HIV positive. The man began to laugh at a joke and spit as he was laughing. The spit from the HIV positive man's mouth went into the eyes of my friend. He is worried that he could be infected with HIV. Is it possible for HIV to be transmitted this way? If the man had a cut in his mouth and was bleeding, could his saliva with some HIV positive blood give my friend HIV if it went into my friend's eye? If so, what are the chances? Has saliva with HIV positive blood in it ever been transmitted in this way (VIA it going into someone's eye)?  Should my friend be tested for HIV?

[jacquepresto]

Thanks very much for your help. I appreciate you taking your time to help us out.

Best wishes,
JP

[justnotsure123]

The reason is because once the virus leaves it's host (aka the HIV+ guy) It is no longer active, basically dies. it cannot live outside its host. That is if there is hiv living in saliva, which thier isn't. As for there being blood in the spit, still no risk, it was dead long before it reached your friend. Hope this helps.

[jacquepresto]

Thanks for the response. Would you care to elaborate why there is no risk? We thought that since the eye is a mucous membrane and the saliva had HIV positive blood, there was a minor risk. Is there no risk because HIV cannot be transmitted through the air/eyes? What is the reason that there is no risk?

Again, thanks for taking your time and responding. Appreciate it.

[justnotsure123]

Nope. No risk. your friend is fine.

[jacquepresto]

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond. Appreciate your input.

Anyone else have an opinion on the matter?

[Teak]

Nope.