Radiation-induced eye impairments

Abstract

The problem of the impact of ionizing radiation on eye structures is one of the most important and topical in radiobiology. Knowledge of tissue radiosensitivity and induced tissue changes in the eye is essential for understanding the nature of radiation damage and the behavior of medical professionals. In this publication, the early and late determined radiation-induced impairments of the eye are presented as a result of radiotherapy or radiation incidents. The risk factors determining post-irradiation eye reactions, pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical picture, diagnosis, prevention, and new approaches in therapy are presented. We found that the typically found radiation-induced eye impairments are those of the eyelids – dermatosis and madarosis, conjunctiva – acute conjunctivitis, varied damage to the lacrimal apparatus, cornea – edema and ulceration, iris – rarely inflammation or neovascularization, sclera – rarely atrophy or necrosis, eye lens – cataract, retina – characteristic retinopathy, and optical nerve – rarely neuropathy. We provide the current consensus on prevention and treatment protocols in radiation-induced eye impairments, though most suggested treatment so far should qualify as experimental.