title: Eye Lens Opacities Among Physicians Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing Radiation.
abstract: We compared the frequency of lens opacities among physicians with and without occupational exposure to ionizing radiation, and estimated dose-response between cumulative dose and opacities. We conducted ophthalmologic examinations of 21 physicians with occupational exposure to radiation and 16 unexposed physicians. Information on cumulative radiation doses (mean 111 mSv) was based on dosimeter readings recorded in a national database on occupational exposures. Lens changes were evaluated using the Lens Opacities Classification System II, with an emphasis on posterior subcapsular (PSC) and cortical changes. Among the exposed physicians, the prevalences of cortical and PSC changes were both 11% (3/21), and the corresponding frequencies in the unexposed group were 44% (n = 7) and 6% (n = 1). For dose-response analysis, the data were pooled with 29 exposed physicians from our previous study. No association of either type of lens changes with cumulative recorded dose was observed. Our findings do not indicate an increased frequency of lens opacities in physicians with occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. However, the subjects in this study have received relatively low doses and therefore the results do not exclude small increases in lens opacities or contradict the studies reporting increases among interventional cardiologists with materially higher cumulative doses.
authors: 1.STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Department of Environmental Surveillance, Laippatie 4, Helsinki, Finland; 2.University of Tampere, School of Health Sciences, Medisiinarinkatu 3, Tampere, Finland; anssi.auvinen@uta.fi.
authors: Anssi
authors: A
authors: Auvinen
authors: 3.Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4C, Helsinki, Finland; 4.University of Helsinki, School of Medicine, Tukholmankatu 8B, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Tero
authors: T
authors: Kivelä
authors: 1.STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Department of Environmental Surveillance, Laippatie 4, Helsinki, Finland;
authors: Sirpa
authors: S
authors: Heinävaara
authors: 3.Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4C, Helsinki, Finland;
authors: Samy
authors: S
authors: Mrena
mesh_terms: D002386:Cataract; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010820:Physicians; D015995:Prevalence; D011482:Protective Devices; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011859:Radiography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: cataract; crystalline; exposure; occupational; radiation effects; radiation protection; radiology