Does occupational radiation exposure affect retinal nerve fiber thickness?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the thickness of peripapillary nerve fibers in radiation-exposed healthcare workers.

METHODS

The study included 60 radiation-exposed healthcare workers and 60 healthy control groups. SD-OCT was used to measure mean peripapillary RNFL thickness along with peripapillary RNFL thickness in the upper, lower, nasal, and temporal quadrants.

RESULTS

The mean age of the subjects participating in the study was 37 ± 6.3 (range 25-50) in the radiation-exposed group and 38 ± 4.9 (range 26-48) in the control group. The mean duration of exposure to radiation in healthcare workers was 11 ± 5 years (range 5-27). While the mean total rim thickness was 94.25 ± 8.2 in the radiation-exposed group, it was 102.8 ± 7.4 in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean superior rim thickness was 123.93 ± 15.13 in the radiation-exposed group, while it was measured as 129.75 ± 14.64 in the control group (p = 0.34). While the mean inferior rim thickness was 110.88 ± 13.43 in the group exposed to radiation, it was 130.08 ± 13.44 in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean nasal rim thickness was 70.25 ± 9.50 in the group exposed to radiation, while it was 75.38 ± 13.77 in the control group (p = 0.46). While the mean temporal rim thickness was 71.77 ± 8.73 in the group exposed to radiation, it was measured as 75.78 ± 13.15 in the control group (p = 0.52). Significant thinning of nerve fiber thickness was found statistically significant in all and especially the inferior quadrants of the healthcare workers exposed to radiation compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

After at least 5 years of radiation exposure, the thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fibers may decrease in healthcare workers.