Clinical investigation of radiation retinopathy fundus and fluorescein angiographic features.

PURPOSE

To investigate the fundus and fluorescein angiographic features in the patients with radiation retinopathy.

CLINICAL MATERIALS

Color fundus photography and/or fluorescein angiography from 13 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas received external beam radiation were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

In this study, 26 damaged eyes of 13 patients developed some degree of radiation retinopathy. The earliest and most common finding was macular microvascular changes (microaneurysms and/or telangiectasia), which was observed in 100% (26/26) of the eyes. Intraretinal hemorrhages, macular capillary nonperfusion, and mascular edema were noted in 84%, 50%, and 42% of the eyes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiation retinopathy is common after external beam radiation of nasopharyngeal carcinomas. The prominent changes include macular microvascular changes, intraretinal hemorrhages and macular capillary nonperfusion.