Source Gastroenterology Unit, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" Hospital, viale dei Cappuccini n. 1, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy.

Several clinical studies have demonstrated that retinopathy and ophthalmic complications are features that appear mostly as side effects in HCV patients undergoing interferon (IFN) therapy. Here we underline that HCV itself is also able to modulate genes involved in ocular pathologies. Presently an in vitro model of ocular tissue derived cells infected with HCV is missing. The establishment of such in vitro models would be helpful to better understand the mechanisms through which HCV induces optical pathologies in order to specifically target the causes of ocular disease.