USE OF ROENTGEN THERAPY FOR RETINAL DISEASES CHARACTERIZED BY NEW-FORMED BLOOD VESSELS (Eales's Disease; Retinitis Proliferans)

Abstract

DURING the past eighteen months we have given intensive roentgen therapy to the posterior ocular segment in a series of patients with ocular diseases characterized by retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, with secondary fibrous tissue formation and with new-formed blood vessels extending into the vitreous. A total of 22 eyes in 14 patients have been so treated. The ocular disease was classified as typical Eales's disease in 8 of these patients, as atypical Eales's disease in 4 patients and as diabetic retinitis proliferans in 2 patients. The roentgen therapy has given sufficiently encouraging immediate results to warrant a preliminary report. TECHNIC OF ROENTGEN THERAPY The irradiation technic devised by Martin and Reese1for the treatment of retinoblastoma was utilized to give large doses of roentgen radiation to the posterior ocular segment with minimal effects on the vulnerable anterior segment. The cones and portals employed were the same as those used