What is Hepatitis C?

What is the Cause and Transmission Route?

The cause is the Hepatitis C virus. Transmission occurs primarily through contact with infected blood. The most common routes today involve sharing needles for injection drug use. Before 1992, transmission was common through blood transfusions before widespread screening began.

What Symptoms are Associated with Infection and Why is Screening Necessary?

Acute infection often causes no symptoms. Chronic infection typically causes nonspecific symptoms like chronic fatigue, muscle aches, and mild abdominal pain. Because the infection can be asymptomatic for decades, causing irreversible liver damage, widespread screening is necessary to detect cases early.

How Does This Condition Impact Vision or Eye Health?

Hepatitis C impacts eye health primarily through associated autoimmune effects. The virus can cause systemic inflammation that rarely leads to retinal vasculitis (inflammation of the retinal blood vessels) or severe dry eyes. Patients may also experience severe dryness due to reduced tear production.

Diagnosis and Curative Treatment

Diagnosis involves a blood test to check for antibodies to the virus. Modern treatment is highly effective, using a short course of Direct-Acting Antivirals. These drugs have revolutionized treatment, as they can cure the infection in the vast majority of patients within 8 to 12 weeks, stopping further liver damage.

Why is Early Diagnosis Critical?

Early diagnosis is critical because the infection often causes no symptoms for decades. Undiagnosed chronic infection progresses silently, causing irreversible liver damage. Treatment should begin before cirrhosis develops to prevent the need for a liver transplant.