[Clinical aspects and care of radiogenic treatment side effects on the eye]

Malignant tumors of the eye can be successfully treated with radiotherapy, which, however, can lead to radiogenic side effects in the surrounding healthy tissues. A  distinction can be made between two forms of irradiation, external radiotherapy (teletherapy) and brachytherapy with a radiation source close to the tumor. The radiation dose is important for the occurrence of side effects. Acute damage usually results from inflammatory processes initiated at the cellular level. In contrast, late side effects are rather due to the reaction of the tissue with repair and remodeling processes . Acute side effects often resolve completely, especially under corresponding treatment, whereas late side effects tend to be irreversible. The aim of this article is to present risk factors as well as the clinical signs of periocular and ocular radiogenic side effects for the relevant tissue structures of the eye in a narrative review to facilitate ophthalmologic follow-up and, if necessary, treatment measures for these patients during everyday practice.