[Intraocular infection with herpesviruses and antiviral immunity in patients with age-related macular degeneration].

Polymerase chain reaction revealed Herpesviridae (Herpes simplex, Cytomegalovirus) in the lens substance in 46 patients operated on for age-related cataract. Thirty-two patients of them had age-related macular degeneration. Herpes simplex was found in 6 (18.8%) of the patients with age-related macular degeneration. At the same time there were signs of lacrimal fluid antiviral immunity imbalance with decreased IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and increased IFN-alpha. The authors consider it advisable to perform antivirus treatment in patients with the above abnormality, preventing the active forms of herpetic infection.