Does occupational radiation exposure affect retinal nerve fiber thickness?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Occupational Health
• Radiology

Background:

• Healthcare workers are frequently exposed to ionizing radiation.
• Ocular structures, including the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), may be susceptible to radiation damage.
• Assessing RNFL thickness can indicate optic nerve health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between occupational radiation exposure and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber thickness in healthcare workers.
• To compare RNFL thickness in radiation-exposed workers with a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• Sixty radiation-exposed healthcare workers and 60 healthy controls were included.
• Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was utilized.
• Mean peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured globally and in superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants.

Main Results:

• Radiation-exposed workers showed statistically significant thinning of the peripapillary RNFL compared to controls (p < 0.001).
• This thinning was most pronounced in the inferior quadrant.
• No significant differences were observed in superior, nasal, or temporal quadrants.

Conclusions:

• Occupational exposure to radiation, particularly for durations of at least five years, may lead to a reduction in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber thickness.
• These findings suggest a potential risk of optic nerve damage in radiation-exposed healthcare personnel.
• Regular ophthalmic monitoring may be warranted for this population.