Clinical and ophthalmological characteristics of ocular involvement in viral liver cirrhosis

Objective: To study the clinical features of ocular involvement in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Material and methods: A comprehensive clinical and ophthalmological examination was conducted in 135 patients with liver cirrhosis of various etiologies (HBV, HCV, HBV+HDV, mixed and unspecified forms). Inclusion criteria: patients with viral liver cirrhosis. Exclusion criteria: patients with hepatitis without cirrhosis and other liver pathologies. The following methods were used: visual acuity testing, tonometry, perimetry, critical flicker fusion frequency assessment, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy.

Results: Ophthalmic manifestations were detected in the majority of patients. The most common ocular disorders were cataract (40.0%), angioretinopathy (30.0%), and dry eye syndrome (28.1%). Inflammatory ocular lesions, including uveitis and uveitic cataract, were detected in 20.0% of patients, predominantly in those with viral liver cirrhosis (p<0.01). Kayser–Fleischer rings were identified in 3.7% of patients with Wilson’s disease.

Conclusions: Ocular involvement in liver cirrhosis is systemic and depends on disease etiology, highlighting the importance of regular ophthalmological monitoring in these patients.

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