Late effects on the eye of conformation radiotherapy for carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.

Sixty patients with carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity were treated with conformation radiotherapy technique (an improved moving-field technique). Only 28 were suitable for long-term follow-up with regard to eye complications. All patients receiving more than 5,800 rads in 6 weeks (1,700 reu in cumulative-radiation-effect dose) had strong panophthalmia with corneal ulceration within 2 years of radiotherapy. Of 21 eyes receiving 800--1,700 reu (2,800--5,400 rads in 6 weeks), 18 experienced visual disturbance from radiation cataracts and 3 equivocal changes at postirradiation intervals of 5 years. No patient receiving less than 800 reu (2,800 rads in 6 weeks) showed such complications.