An eye on hepatitis C: a review

Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2019 Mar-Apr;82(2):161-167. doi: 10.5935/0004-2749.20190027. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Abstract

This review aims to caution ophthalmologists about the ocular consequences leading to the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection. In addition, in this context, the effects of old and new drugs are discussed in the ophthalmological setting. The importance of early diagnosis and the curative treatment of the disease has been reported in the national and international literature, demonstrating that its progression has important implications for daily clinical and surgical ophthalmological practice. Despite the scarcity of studies on new direct-acting antiviral drugs, fewer side effects of these drugs have been shown when compared with conventional interferon treatment with or without ribavirin. The ophthalmologist's risk of becoming infected, as demonstrated by the presence of the virus in ocular structures, and the possibility of contamination, is also discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Eye Infections, Viral / pathology
  • Eye Infections, Viral / virology*
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C / pathology
  • Humans
  • Interferons / therapeutic use
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Ribavirin
  • Interferons