SUCCESSFUL RADIATION WITH ELECTRONS OF TH E CILIARY PROCESSES OF APHAKIC PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM OTHERWISE NON TREATABLE GLAUCOMA

Background Successfull radiation was already reported by Genee and Wei tzel (1968): Electrons from a Betatron were used for irradiation of th e ciliary epithelium to lower aqueous humor secretion. To our knowledg e, no other paper on this topic has been published so far. Patient A 3 6-year-old man had a history of concussion trauma and cataract surgery in childhood. In adult age, cataract surgery and retinal operations w ere followed by numerous surgical procedures and maximal medical treat ment because of a secondary glaucoma. The patient refused further surg ical and medical treatment with the exception of the administered syst emic carbo-anhydrase inhibitor. Because of severe side-effects caused by the acetozolamide, irradiation of the ciliary processes with electr ons, emitted from a linear accelerator, was performed. The total amoun t of 12 Gy both on the nasal and on the temporal side of the ciliary b ody was fractionated in several sessions. Results During a follow-up o f 22 months without medication, the mean value of i.o. pressure was 22 ,1 mm Hg. The patient is doing well, corrected VA is 0.8. Conclusion I rradiation of the ciliary processes with electrons for lowering aqueou s humor secretion was effective in an otherwise non treatable case of glaucoma.