Results of the study of cataracts in the exposed population in the Southern Urals

Epidemiological data have revealed a significant association between exposure to ionizing radiation, loss of optical lens function, and cataract formation. Residents of villages in the Southern Urals were chronically exposed to external and internal radiation in the range of «small» and «medium» doses as a result of two radiation accidents at the «Mayak» plant in the middle of the last century. Purpose. Тo investigate changes in the lens in individuals who have been chronically exposed to radiation over a long time. Material and methods. Аn analysis of the results of the examination by an ophthalmologist in the clinical Department of the URCRM of 583 people from among those who were subjected to chronic radiation exposure and their offspring was carried out. The examination was carried out according to a special in-depth program with photo fixation of changes in the lens (18 characteristics). Results. According to the results of the examination, grade 1 and 2 opacities were most often detected in all layers of the lens. More expressed changes in the lens significantly reduce vision and require earlier cataract surgery. Lens Opacities in the cortical layers are the most common type of lens pathology in the development of cataracts in all age categories. The frequency of nuclear cataracts in the study group of patients of the URCRM Clinic gradually increases with attained age from 0% under the age of 40 to 19-23% in the age groups with members aged over 70. The same tendency is observed in the increase in the intensity of yellow color in the staining of the lens nucleus. The largest changes in the posterior lens capsule were observed in the oldest age group (over the age of 80 - 22% of all the opacities at this age). Conclusion. The ophthalmological examination of patients affected by radiation accidents in the Ural region revealed an increase in cataract cases with an increase in age, which corresponds to the trends in the non-irradiated population. Key words: eye diseases; chronic radiation exposure; cortical cataract; nuclear cataract; posterior subcapsular cataract.