Dry eye syndrome in chronic hepatitis C: clinical features and therapy
Akberova G. E.¹,Chernakova G. M.², Kleshcheva E. A.², Khaertynova I. M.<sup>1

1</sup> Kazan state medical Academy
² Russian medical Academy of postgraduate education, Moscow

Objective: to study the clinical features of dry eye in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (CVHC) and therapy efficacy by this state. 
Material and methods: Retrospectively 35 case histories of patients (70 eyes) with CVHC and dry eye (group A) were analyzed. A prospective study included 20 patients (40 eyes) with CVHC and dry eye (group B), before and during antiviral therapy (AVT) artificial tears were applied. The diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C was established on the basis of epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data and was confirmed by detecting hepatits C virus (HCV) RNA (HCV) in biological fluids by polymerase chain reaction. Standard ophthalmologic examination was carried out a dynamic observation: prior to the beginning of AVT and on the background of PVT. 
Results: Moderate dry eye was diagnosed in 25 cases (71,43%) in group A and in 18 cases (90.0%) in group B; two patients of group A presented severe dry eye. Application of artificial tears for minimum 6 months in group B significantly reduced complains and signs of dry eye during AVT.

Key words: chronic viral hepatitis C, antiviral therapy, dry eye, artificial tears.

For citation: Akberova G. E., Chernakova G. M., Kleshcheva E. A., Khaertynova I. M. Dry eye syndrome in chronic hepatitis C: clinical features and therapy // RMJ. Clinical ophthalmology. 2016. № 3. P. 127–131.