Objective:

To determine the association between occupational ionizing radiation exposure in the cardiovascular catheterization laboratories staff and development of lens changes.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was made. Participants were recruited at the XIII Colombian Conference of Interventional Cardiology and SOLACI conferences in Bogotá - Colombia 2017. Informed consent was obtained from all study participants. Demographics and clinical data were collected. Associated lens changes were determined according to the ionizing radiation exposure status.

Results:

A total of 89 subjects (178 eyes) participated in the study. In general, the mean age was 40 years old, ranging from 19 to 78 years old. Distribution according gender was 55.3% male and 44.7% female. 31 subjects (62 eyes) were deemed to have not occupational exposure to radiation and 58 subjects (116 eyes) with a history of occupational radiation exposure. Exposed eyes had twice risk for present subcapsular posterior lens opacity compared to non-exposed eyes. The subjects with older age and physician role were associated to the presence of lens opacity, with a p value 0.001 in both cases. Likewise, exposed subjects with any lens opacity had a high mean occupational lifetime, with a p 0.001.

Conclusions:

This study confirms a statistically significant increase in radiation-associated subcapsular lens changes in the eyes of interventional cardiology staff compared to unexposed controls.

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