Purpose: To investigate the fundus and fluorescein angiographic features in the patients with radiation retinopathy.
Clinical materials: Color fundus photography and/or fluorescein angiography from 13 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas received external beam radiation were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: In this study, 26 damaged eyes of 13 patients developed some degree of radiation retinopathy. The earliest and most common finding was macular microvascular changes (microaneurysms and/or telangiectasia), which was observed in 100% (26/26) of the eyes. Intraretinal hemorrhages, macular capillary nonperfusion, and mascular edema were noted in 84%, 50%, and 42% of the eyes, respectively.
Conclusions: Radiation retinopathy is common after external beam radiation of nasopharyngeal carcinomas. The prominent changes include macular microvascular changes, intraretinal hemorrhages and macular capillary nonperfusion.