Ocular manifestations in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C

Abstract:

Given the global prevalence of various forms of viral hepatitis, there has been an increase in the number of investigations researching the effect of the virus to other organs except the liver, and the organism as a whole. It is known that in patients with chronic forms of hepatitis B and C changes and symptoms not only affect the liver, but also extrahepatic manifestations associated with viral hepatitis can occur. Although the eye is not a target organ for hepatitis virus B and C, to some extent some ocular manifestations may be related to the presence of these viruses. Ocular manifestations can vary from dry eye syndrome, through changes in the anterior segment of the eye such as Mooren‘s ulcer changes to the changes of the rear segment of the eye. The increasing use of antiviral drugs for the treatment of hepatitis spurred scientific interest about their possible adverse effect on the eye, especially in the rear segment of the eye.

Key words:
dry eye; hepatitis B; hepatitis C; ocular manifestations of hepatitis