Purpose: To determine the incidence and type of posterior segment complications associated with the use of interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Design: A prospective noncomparative case series.
Participants: Forty-two patients (84 eyes).
Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated for ocular changes while being treated with interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin. Patients were followed with sequential ocular examinations for 4 to 20 months.
Main outcome measures: Occurrence of posterior segment complications while on interferon and ribavirin therapy.
Results: Twenty-seven patients developed retinopathy. The retinopathy consisted of single-to-multiple cotton-wool spots and retinal hemorrhage and was transient in all cases. An additional patient (age 46) presented with asymptomatic disc edema and hemorrhage. One other individual developed a symptomatic permanent monocular visual field defect. Therapy was discontinued in three patients because of severe posterior segment pathology.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that a high incidence of retinopathy is associated with the treatment of hepatitis C using interferon and ribavirin, but that this form of retinopathy is relatively benign. Regular ophthalmic monitoring should be performed in patients undergoing this treatment.