Ophthalmological side effects of interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C

Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the world, estimated nationally at 14.7% (1). Combined therapy of PEGylated interferon alpha (PEG IFN-α) and ribavirin (RBV) is the base for HCV treatment (2). Ophthalmological complications are amongst many side effects of IFN based therapy for HCV infection (3). The exact mechanism of IFN induced retinopathy is not known, although some investigators have suggested, it may be related to a disrupted retinal microcirculation (4), others believe that IFN impairs the vascular endothelial functions (5)