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Table 1 Main epidemiological studies of low dose radiation-induced cataracts

From: Occupational cataracts and lens opacities in interventional cardiology (O'CLOC study): are X-Rays involved?

 

Population size

Exposure level

Exposure age or period

Eye examination age or period

Type of cataracts involved

Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors

Otake et al. [5]

Cohort of 1983 individuals

-

H & N: Mean age = 29.3 yrs and 23.4 yrs

1963-1964

γ-ray threshold: 730 mGy

neutron-ray threshold: 60 mGy

Minamoto et al.[6]

Cohort of 873 individuals

Eye dose= 405 mSv

Mean age = 8.8 yrs

Mean age =

64.8 yrs

Cortical opacities

PS opacities

Nakashima et al.[7]

Cohort of 730 individuals

-

Median age = 10.5 yrs

Median age = 66.6 yrs

Threshold dose:

0.6 Sv for cortical opacities

0.7 Sv for PS cataracts

Chernobyl children

Day et al.[8]

996 exposed/791 unexposed

-

Chronic

Range =

5 - 17 yrs

PS opacities

Contaminated buildings in Taiwan

Chen et al.[9]

Cohort of 114 individuals

161.9 mSv

Chronic

Mean=

24.8 yrs

Focal lens defects

Diagnostic examinations

Klein et al.[10]

4926 subjects

Diagnostic X-Ray exposure

-

Range =

43 - 84 yrs

PS opacities

Treatment of benign diseases

Wilde et al.[12]

20 adults treated by radium irradiation

Range:

1-8 Gy

Median age =

6 months

Range =

31 - 46 yrs

Subcapsular punctuate opacities at 100 mGy

Hall et al. [11]

483 individuals treated by radiotherapy vs. 89 controls

0.4 Gy

(0-8.4)

Mean age =

5 months

Range =

36 - 54 yrs

PS opacities and

Cortical opacities

Chernobyl Liquidators

Worgul et al.[13]

8,607 Ukrainian workers

Median lens dose = 120 mGy (0-0.8)

Mean age = 36.7 yrs

Mean = 45 yrs

PS changes and Cortical cataracts

Astronauts

Cucinotta et al[14]

295 astronauts

Mean eye dose = 3.6 mSv

Chronic (at least 40 yrs old at first flight)

First eye exam in 1977

PS cataracts, Nuclear cataracts and mixed

Rastegar et al.[15]

21 astronauts vs. 395 unexposed

-

Mean time in space = 62 days

Mean = 59 yrs in astronauts group

Opacities in posterior capsule

Chylack et al.[16]

171 astronauts vs. 247 unexposed

Lens dose = 15.1 to 129.3 mSv

-

2004-2006

Cortical cataracts and

PS opacities

Airline pilots

Rafnsonn et al.[17]

274 pilots with lens opacities vs. 374 controls

Cumulative dose: 0 to 48 mSv

-

Mean = 75 yrs in cases; 66.1 yrs in controls

Nuclear cataract

Radiologists and radiological technologists

Chodick et al.[18]

Cohort of 35 705 radiology technicians

Median = 28.1 mGy

Range = 24 - 44 yrs

Follow up between 1983 and 2004

Any cataract

  1. PSC: posterior subcapsular cataract; PS: posterior subcapsular;