Review of Radiation Therapy in Benign Ocular Diseases

Abstract

Radiotherapy is a modality used for the treatment of malignant diseases. However it is also used as an effective modality in the treatment of many benign disorders. It is generally not the first choice of therapy in non malignant conditions but usually used when other modalities have failed or may induce more side effects. Benign disorders of the eye can cause severe morbidity in terms of inflammatory symptoms, loss of vision, pain and diplopia. Radiotherapy in such conditions is given in very low doses and the goals are controlling the condition and at the same time minimizing late tissue sequelae, if any. Here we highlight the use of radiotherapy in most common benign conditions of the eye; mainly Pterygium, Haemangioma, Graves’ Orbitopathy and Pseudotumour Orbitae. Keywords: benign ocular conditions; Graves’ Orbitopathy and haemangioma; pterygium; pseudotumour; radiotherapy.