Ten years of experience with human fibroblast interferon in treatment of viral ophthalmic infections.

This review of ten years of experience presents the results of clinical use of human beta-interferon (Frone) in viral ocular disease. Two forms of human beta-interferon have been used: (a) Frone cream 20,000 IU/g (Inter-Yeda Ltd.) for local treatment and prevention of HSV-1 periocular skin lesions and for Herpes zoster ophthalmicus. (b) Frone eye drops (500,000-1,000,000 U) for prophylaxis and treatment of adenovirus infections and for prevention of recurrent HSV-1 keratitis. Our results show that Frone cream or drops, applied at an early stage, is: (a) Effective in significantly shortening the course of the disease; (b) Has a drying effect on herpetic skin lesions, and tear secretion in adeno viral disease; (c) Reduces the frequency from 1.2 to 0.04 attacks per year for patients with known biological rhythm of the disease; (d) Prevents subepithelial keratitis in 45% of the study population; (e) Prophylactic treatment of interferon in families reduces the incidence of contamination from 65% to 20%.