Occupational Radiation Effects on Ocular Structures and Visual Function: A Comprehensive Review

Occupational radiation exposure can affect ocular health across medical, nuclear, aviation, outdoor, welding, and other specialized workplace settings. This narrative review is primarily focused on occupational ocular radiation injury and occupational eye protection. It prioritizes human occupational evidence on ionizing radiation and occupationally relevant non-ionizing optical hazards, particularly solar ultraviolet exposure, welding, and lasers, while using experimental or non-occupational evidence only when needed to clarify mechanisms or areas of uncertainty. Evidence is strongest for an association between occupational ionizing radiation and crystalline lens opacity or cataract, whereas evidence for routine occupational effects on the retina, optic nerve, or macula is substantially weaker. Prevention and surveillance are considered using exposure-specific protection frameworks rather than a single radiation model. Psychosocial, quality of life, and economic consequences are treated as secondary downstream implications of visual impairment rather than as evidence of radiation causality.