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Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Conjunctiva, Cornea, and Lens

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Radiotherapy of Intraocular and Orbital Tumors

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Radiat Oncol))

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Abstract

The human eye is exposed to a wide range of radiant energy aside from the visual spectrum, including ultraviolet, infrared, microwave, and ionizing radiation. Of these, ionizing radiation can cause some of the most significant and long-lasting ocular damage to the lens, conjunctiva, and cornea. Ionizing sources include cosmic (30 Mrem/year) and terrestrial sources (60 Mrem/year), as well as man-made sources (60 Mrem/year). These last include X-rays, radioactive isotopes, diagnostic and therapeutic radioactive sources, and release from nuclear power stations. Control of these man-made exposures with shielding of the globe, when possible, can minimize or eliminate the acute and chronic effects of radiation exposure.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA, 17822-2120, USA

    H. J. Ingraham MD

  2. 2000 North Village Avenue, Suite 402, Rockville Center, New York, NY, 11570, USA

    E. D. Donnenfeld MD

  3. 70 East 66th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    D. H. Abramson MD

Authors
  1. H. J. Ingraham MD
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  2. E. D. Donnenfeld MD
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  3. D. H. Abramson MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Robert H. Sagerman MD, FACR (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Winfried E. Alberti MD (Professor) (Professor)

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Ingraham, H.J., Donnenfeld, E.D., Abramson, D.H. (2003). Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Conjunctiva, Cornea, and Lens. In: Sagerman, R.H., Alberti, W.E. (eds) Radiotherapy of Intraocular and Orbital Tumors. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55910-5_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55910-5_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-63147-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-55910-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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