Re: leaded glasses

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Andy,

Here are some excerpts I maintained from the MedPhysics 
Listserver, which addressed a question such as yours. Hope this 
helps a bit.
---------------

Post Number 1

Interesting considerations.  With regard to glasses, there was a 
paper in Medical Physics many years ago showing that they really 
do not reduce the dose to the eye much, perhaps 50%.  This is 
due to the fact that the head provides significant backscatter to the 
eye.  I would question if they are really cost effective, especially if 
one takes a look at the doses required for cataract production.
----------------

Post Number 2

My recollection is that the "threshold" for cataract induction (over a 
"lifetime" of radiation) is approximately 5 Gy.  (15 rem per year x 
30 years = only 450 rem; close but no cigar).  And so, I will 
concede that if an individual stayed within the ALARA limits AND if 
radiation were the _only_ cataract-inducing agent to which the 
individual were subjected, there shouldn't be any problem.  

------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
ICN Plaza
3300 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3149
  
sandyfl@earthlink.net
sperle@icnpharm.com

ICN Dosimetry Website:
http://www.dosimetry.com

Personal Website:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205

"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
              - G. K. Chesterton -

The opinions expressed are solely, absolutely, positively, definitely those of the author, and NOT my employer
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