Effects of megavoltage therapy of cancer on the eye

Twenty-two cases with carcinomas of the nasal cavity, sinuses, buccal and orbital regions treated in the Radiotherapy Clinic of University Central Hospital in Turku, are presented. The dose delivered to the eye was 1400 to 6300 rd. The most usual radiation complication was keratitis which appeared in 15 cases, cataract was diagnosed in seven cases, corneal ulcer in three, iritis in two, retinopathia in two, and glaucoma in three cases. Most of the complications could be relieved or cured with appropriate therapy. In only one case the eye was to be enucleated because of severe glaucoma and corneal ulceration. As the prognosis of malignant tumours in this area usually is bad, irradiation to the eye on the affected side is to be taken as a calculated risk to achieve a more effective cancer control.