FEATURES OF TEAR PRODUCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C
Aim. To study the features of tear production in patients with chronic hepatitis C, depending on the duration of infection. Methods. 40 patients (80 eyes) with chronic hepatitis C infection (first group — 11 patients, chronic hepatitis C duration up to 3 years, second group — 10 patients, chronic hepatitis C duration 3 to 5 years, third group — 19 patients, chronic hepatitis C duration over 5 years). The control group consisted of 20 healthy subjects (40 eyes). All study subjects underwent standard ophthalmic examination, a set of clinical, epidemiological and laboratory studies; the level of total tear production was examined by the Schirmer’s test. Results. Eye pathologies were determined in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Total tear production in patients with chronic hepatitis C was 1.82±0.09 mm compared to 2.2±0.06 mm in the control group. At the early stages of chronic hepatitis C (duration up to 3 years) tear production has changed diversely: it increased in 27.2% of patients and decreased in 18.8% of patients. At the later stages of chronic hepatitis C (duration over 5 years) tear production increased only in 15.8% of patients and decreased in 52.6% of patients. Conclusion. In patients with chronic hepatitis C total tear production changes depending on the duration and the severity of infection, which should be considered in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of ophthalmic diseases in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.