A CONTROL GROUP FOR RADIATION INDUCED LENS OPACITIES USING AN ELECTRONIC SCHEIMPFLUG SYSTEM

摘要

Opacification of the ocular lens is an important late effect of exposure to ionizing radiation. To assess minor opacifications and to quantify the results, the Scheimpflug technique needs to be applied. To compare the degree of opacifications in the radiation exposed cohorts with normal levels, measurements in a reference group are required to determine average degrees of lens opacifications due to aging. With our electronic Scheimpflug system we started to establish such a reference group by examining a cohort of 395 persons with the Scheimpflug technique. The age span of the group covers 67 years, from age 14 to age 81. Increasing opacity with increasing age is found for all anatomical substructures, except the posterior capsule. As this appears to be caused by the influence of reduced illumination of the posterior lens segments due to light absorption in the anterior segments, tentative correction factors have been derived to account for this artefact. The corrected opacity values show an increase with age for all substructures, including the posterior capsule.