A CLINICAL-STUDY OF RADIATION CATARACT FORMATION IN ADULT LIFE FOLLOWING GAMMA-IRRADIATION OF THE LENS IN EARLY-CHILDHOOD

Aims-To analyse long term effects on the lens of radium irradiation du ring infancy. Methods-An infant cohort (n = 20, median age 6 months) t reated for skin haemangioma with one or two radium-226 needles located at or within the orbital rim was examined 30 to 45 years after gamma radiation. Detailed information about the treatment procedure was avai lable for all cases. Subcapsular opacities were graded semiquantitativ ely according to a scale based on extent and density of the opacities. Results-A high prevalence of light to moderate posterior, subcapsular , and cortical cataract formation was found in the lenses on the treat ed side irradiated with a mean dose ranging from approximately 1 to 8 Gy. The cataract formation increased as a function of dose. The presen ce of subcapsular punctate opacities and vacuoles in the lenses on the untreated side receiving irradiation of an estimated dose varying aro und 0.1 Gy indicates a higher sensitivity than expected. Conclusion-Th e growing lens during infancy is sensitive to radium irradiation at do ses lower than those previously stated. The eye lens seems suitable fo r studies of effects of low dose radiation since damaged cells are ret ained in the lens for a lifetime.