How did Chernobyl disaster affected the eyes of people?
Science is a gateway to the fulfilment of the dreams seen with open eyes. It is the sceince that has helped us to understand things ranging from the arrangement of atoms and sub-atomic particles to the capturing images of the blackholes. It is also sceince has helped us to know the exact causes of diseases and how to get them out of our body. But scientists being human can do some potentially chalenging mistakes making it extremely difficult to undo them as it would take them building a time machine to change the past.
What actually happened at Chernobyl?
Same thing happened at Chernobyl on 26th april 1986. It occured at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in present-day Ukraine, when a reactor explosion during a safety test released massive amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. Those radiations not only burned the human skin but also potentially caused mutations in the DNA of the people. While it was not highly talked, it caused a sharp rise in eyes diseases among the local population.
Impact of radiaiton upon the eyes
The human eye is extremely sensitive to radiation. Ocular tissues such as the lens, retina, and optic nerve contain cells that divide slowly and have limited regenerative capacity. Ionizing radiation disrupts cellular DNA, leading to structural damage and functional loss. Even low to moderate doses can produce long-term visual effects. Children exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl disaster were especially vulnerable. Developing ocular tissues are more sensitive to radiation, increasing the lifetime risk of early cataract formation and other ocular abnormalities. This highlights the importance of strict radiation protection in pediatric populations
Dominant changes in eyes
Studies conducted on Chernobyl cleanup workers (liquidators) and exposed populations showed a significantly higher incidence of posterior subcapsular cataracts, even at relatively low radiation doses. Apart from cataracts, retinal and vascular changes were also observed. Radiation exposure can damage retinal blood vessels. Some individuals exposed to Chernobyl radiation showed signs of radiation retinopathy, including hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, and reduced retinal perfusion. These changes can gradually impair visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. The Chernobyl incident had a profound and lasting impact on eye health. From early-onset cataracts to retinal and optic nerve damage, radiation exposure affected multiple ocular structures.
Founder of EyesMatterMost- an optometry student who loves talking about eyes. I tend to cover topics related to optometry, ophthalmology, eye health, eyecare, eye cosmetics and everything in between. This website is a medium to educate my readers everything related to eyes.