Eye lens opacities and cataracts among physicians and healthcare workers occupationally exposed to radiation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk of developing eye lens opacities and cataracts among physicians and healthcare workers occupationally exposed to radiation. METHODS: Our literature search captured articles published in Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Google Scholar databases until September 2021. Then, we retrieved articles reporting cataracts and eye lens opacities induced by radiation exposure among healthcare professionals. The outcomes of interest were cataracts, nuclear opacity, cortical opacity, posterior subcapsular opacity, and any lens opacity. RESULTS: Of the 4123 articles identified, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Healthcare workers exposed to radiation had a significantly greater risk of posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSCs), cataracts, and any lens opacities than those of the non-exposed participants (p<0.05). The cortical opacity was not significantly different between the exposed and non-exposed participants (p>0.05). Radiation was not determined to be a risk factor for nuclear opacity as it was significantly greater in the control group than the exposed participants. Subgroup analysis revealed that nurses had the highest risk for PSCs (risk ratio = 4.00), followed by interventional cardiologists (risk ratio = 3.85). CONCLUSION: The risk of posterior subcapsular opacities and cataracts is significantly higher in healthcare workers with occupational radiation exposure than in non-exposed workers, highlighting the necessity to enhance and promote the wearing of protective measures with high safety levels.