Exposure to diagnostic x-rays and incident age-related eye disease

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a self-reported history of computed tomography or other x-rays of the head were associated with the incidence of age-related cataracts and maculopathy five years later. METHOD. A 5-year longitudinal follow-up of the Beaver Dam Eye Study cohort (n=3,684, 43-86 years at baseline). RESULTS. There was no evidence of a relationship between the x-ray exposures and the incidence of nuclear or cortical cataracts, or early maculopathy. There was a significant relationship to the incidence of posterior subcapsular cataract after adjusting for age only. CONCLUSIONS. Adult patients in whom medical conditions warrant diagnostic x-rays of the head appear to be at little or no increased risk of age-related cataract or maculopathy. However, research efforts with more precise measures of x-ray exposure, longer follow-up, and further attempts to define uncontrolled confounders are warranted.