Effects of Irradiation on the Eye

Abstract

From 1954 through 1971, 47 patients with malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses were treated with an entire eye included in the tumor dose volume. All patients were treated with megavoltage radiation and received approximately 6,000 rads in 30 fractions in six weeks. Two thirds of the patients treated by irradiation alone had no problems with vision or difficulties related to treatment of the eye. When 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was used in conjunction with high-dose radiotherapy, loss of vision was much more frequent and all patients had either visual loss or major clinical difficulties.

Strontium plaque irradiation of subfoveal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration

“…The lens is the most sensitive part of the eye. The chance of cataract developing is already 50% after a dose of 5.5 Gy [8]. In 90 Sr irradiation, only minimal scattered radiation is delivered to the lens and irradiation to other parts of the eye, such as the optic nerve, is minimal (Fig.…”

3 Jahre Erfahrung mit der niedrig dosierten fraktionierten perkutanen Teletherapie bei subfoveolären Neovaskularisationen Klinische Ergebnisse

“…Eine Bestrahlung mit einer Dosis bis 20 Gy in 2-Gy-Fraktionen lässt strahlenbedingte Nebenwirkungen an Retina, retinalen Gefäßen und Nervus opticus nicht erwarten [2,9,18]. Die als kataraktogen anzusehende Toleranzdosis der Linse [36] wird durch die geschilderte Aussparungstechnik unterschritten [12].…”

Retinopathy after Irradiation and Hyperbaric Oxygen

“…Duke-Elder (1972) suggests that more than 3000 rad to the posterior segment will lead to some degree of retinal damage. Reported doses of irradiation to paraocular structures causing a retinopathy are generally more than 5000 rad (Shukovsky & Fletcher 1972, Chan & Shukovsky 1976, Chee 1968. It is now becoming apparent that though the total dose of irradiation is important in this respect, other factors such as fractionation, type of irradiation and the time course of delivery all play a part (Aristizabal et al 1977).…”