Lens Injuries Induced by Occupational Exposure in Non-optimized Interventional Radiology Laboratories

Several cases of ophthalmologically confirmed lens injuries, caused by occupational radiation exposure, have occurred in two X-ray rooms devoted to vascular and visceral interventional radiology procedures. Both laboratories were equipped with overcouch X-ray systems not designed for interventional radiology and without specific tools for radiation protection of the eyes. Typical workloads ranged from between two and five procedures per day. For the two radiologists affected, estimates for the dose to eye lens ranged from 450 to 900 mSv per year, over several years. Once the incidents had been detected, the X-ray systems in both rooms were removed and new equipment specifically designed for interventional radiology was installed, including suspended shielding screens. Since these lens injuries were only detected accidentally, measures to avoid similar occurrences in the future are discussed.