The use of personal protective equipment(PPE)for ophthalmologists caring for asymptomatic patients remains controversial.This commentary reviews the latest emerging evidence.This is paramountly important in shaping he...The use of personal protective equipment(PPE)for ophthalmologists caring for asymptomatic patients remains controversial.This commentary reviews the latest emerging evidence.This is paramountly important in shaping health policies in countries which is not currently recommended.展开更多
Antiviral therapy consisting of interferon-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with multi-system side-effects.Ophthalmologic complications are common and can be classified into two grou...Antiviral therapy consisting of interferon-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with multi-system side-effects.Ophthalmologic complications are common and can be classified into two groups:interferon-associated retinopathy and atypical adverse events.Interferon-associated retinopathy has been investigated by multiple observational studies that have found widely divergent results.The clinical importance of this complication is,consequently,controversial.This review examines the literature with the specific goal of identifying the most important ophthalmologic issues facing the hepatologist prescribing antiviral therapy.Accordingly,it assesses the incidence of interferon-associated retinopathy,as well as its risk factors,pathogenesis,clinical manifestations and options for management using data from the observational studies.The likely benefit of a screening program,especially one targeting patients with the highest risk of developing interferon-associated retinopathy,is analysed.Atypical ophthalmologic adverse events occur less frequently than interferon-associated retinopathy during antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection.They often,however,lead to irreversible vision loss.We examine the reports of these adverse events-in individual case reports or case series and in the observational studies investigating interferon-associated retinopathy-to describe the spectrum of these adverse events,the likely outcome for patients and to highlight the most important areas of future clinical research.展开更多
文摘The use of personal protective equipment(PPE)for ophthalmologists caring for asymptomatic patients remains controversial.This commentary reviews the latest emerging evidence.This is paramountly important in shaping health policies in countries which is not currently recommended.
基金Supported by National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant,No.APP1006759 and the Robert W.Storr Bequest to the Sydney Medical Foundation of the University of Sydney to Ahlenstiel G
文摘Antiviral therapy consisting of interferon-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with multi-system side-effects.Ophthalmologic complications are common and can be classified into two groups:interferon-associated retinopathy and atypical adverse events.Interferon-associated retinopathy has been investigated by multiple observational studies that have found widely divergent results.The clinical importance of this complication is,consequently,controversial.This review examines the literature with the specific goal of identifying the most important ophthalmologic issues facing the hepatologist prescribing antiviral therapy.Accordingly,it assesses the incidence of interferon-associated retinopathy,as well as its risk factors,pathogenesis,clinical manifestations and options for management using data from the observational studies.The likely benefit of a screening program,especially one targeting patients with the highest risk of developing interferon-associated retinopathy,is analysed.Atypical ophthalmologic adverse events occur less frequently than interferon-associated retinopathy during antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection.They often,however,lead to irreversible vision loss.We examine the reports of these adverse events-in individual case reports or case series and in the observational studies investigating interferon-associated retinopathy-to describe the spectrum of these adverse events,the likely outcome for patients and to highlight the most important areas of future clinical research.
