[Local prevention with interferon of "epidemic" conjunctivitis caused by a currently unidentifiable virus]

Topical Interferon application did effectively interrupt the further clinical spread of a highly contagious viral keratoconjunctivitis. A total of 130 endangered inpatients, still free from symptoms, were treated with one drop per eye daily for a period of 12 days. 123 patients stood free from any further infection. Only during the first two days after the beginning of the Interferon prophylaxis 7 inpatients showed an acute viral keratoconjunctivitis still. Obviously these patients were infected prior to the prophylactic therapy and were just in the incubation period. We conclude that Interferon eye drops (one drop per eye daily) may offer a reliable protection from exogenous viral infection. Certainly this protection comes too late if the patient's incubation period has already started.