E. Vano et al., LENS INJURIES INDUCED BY OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE IN NON-OPTIMIZED INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY LABORATORIES, British journal of radiology, 71(847), 1998, pp. 728-733
Several cases of ophthalmologically confirmed lens injuries, caused by
occupational radiation exposure, have occurred in two X-ray rooms dev
oted to vascular and visceral interventional radiology procedures. Bot
h laboratories were equipped with overcouch X-ray systems not designed
for interventional radiology and without specific tools for radiation
protection of the eyes. Typical workloads ranged from between two and
five procedures per day. For the two radiologists affected, estimates
for the dose to eye lens ranged from 450 to 900 mSv per year, over se
veral years. Once the incidents had been detected, the X-ray systems i
n both rooms were removed and new equipment specifically designed for
interventional radiology was installed, including suspended shielding
screens. Since these lens injuries were only detected accidentally, me
asures to avoid similar occurrences in the future are discussed.