Premium
Ocular surface diseases following ocular irradiation
Author(s) -
HorwathWinter Jutta
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2019.8163
Subject(s) - medicine , meibomian gland , cornea , conjunctiva , radiation therapy , incidence (geometry) , ophthalmology , dermatology , eyelid , surgery , pathology , physics , optics
Radiotherapy is used for many ocular and periocular indications in malignant and benign diseases. In this talk an overview of ocular surface damage secondary to radiotherapy will be provided. Significant side effects on the external eye occur after irradiation including atrophy of the lacrimal and meibomian glands, damage to the conjunctiva and cornea. These may result in the development of ocular surface diseases such as dry eye syndrome, causing severe patient discomfort. The incidence and severity of the side effects varies depending on the type, location and dose of the radiation treatment. The effects can be clinically subtle, but also devastating to the eye. The discussion of characteristic clinical changes and underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms should provide a rational approach to prevention and treatment of irradiation associated side effects. Tear film and ocular surface evaluation should be performed before irradiation and during follow‐up in order to detect acute and chronic complications and to initiate treatment on a timely basis.