Leaded glasses splitting showing eye radiation.

Are Your Leaded Glasses Really Protecting You? The Shocking Truth About Radiation Exposure in Cardiology

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A new study reveals that standard leaded glasses may not provide sufficient protection against ionizing radiation for interventional cardiologists, challenging current safety standards."

Cataracts, a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness worldwide, are increasingly linked to ionizing radiation exposure, especially a type known as posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataracts. This has raised concerns among healthcare professionals working in environments with radiation, such as interventional cardiology.

Interventional cardiology involves procedures like angioplasties and angiograms that rely on X-rays to visualize blood vessels and guide treatment. While these procedures are life-saving, they expose cardiologists and their teams to secondary ionizing radiation. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has set new, lower limits for radiation exposure to the eye, prompting a reevaluation of current safety measures.

Traditionally, leaded glasses with a 0.25 mm lead equivalency have been used to protect the eyes during these procedures. However, a recent study published in the journal 'Revista Médica de Chile' challenges the assumption that these glasses provide adequate protection, raising critical questions about the safety of interventional cardiologists.

The Alarming Reality: How Much Radiation Are Cardiologists Really Exposed To?

Leaded glasses splitting showing eye radiation.

The Chilean study, conducted at a primary level hospital, meticulously measured radiation exposure to interventional cardiology staff over nine months. Researchers placed thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) both in front of and behind the leaded glasses of seven staff members, including cardiologists, technicians, nurses, and paramedics. The team performed 1,057 procedures, comprising 763 coronary angiographies and 294 coronary angioplasties.

The results revealed a disturbing trend: interventional cardiologists received significantly higher doses of radiation compared to other staff members. The monthly dose equivalent measured in front of the leaded glasses ranged from 1.1 to 6.5 mSv (millisieverts). Projecting this exposure to an annual level, cardiologists could receive up to 78 mSv, far exceeding the ICRP's recommended annual limit of 20 mSv averaged over five years.

Cardiologists at Risk: The study highlighted that cardiologists might surpass the ICRP's crystalline equivalent dose limit with current practices.
Attenuation Limitations: The glasses' attenuation ranged from 40% to 57.7%, insufficient to meet safety standards.
Varied Exposure: Doses varied significantly among roles, with nurses receiving substantially lower exposures than cardiologists.

Even behind the leaded glasses, the radiation levels were concerning, with measurements ranging from 0.66 to 2.75 mSv per month. This translates to a potential annual exposure of 33 mSv, still exceeding the recommended limit. These findings suggest that while leaded glasses offer some protection, they are not enough to keep radiation exposure within safe levels for interventional cardiologists under current ICRP standards.

Protecting Our Protectors: A Call for Enhanced Safety Measures

The study's findings underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive review of radiation safety practices in interventional cardiology. Healthcare facilities must consider implementing additional protective measures, such as using leaded glasses with higher lead equivalency (0.33 or 0.5 mm Pb), optimizing fluoroscopy techniques to minimize radiation exposure, and ensuring strict adherence to radiation safety protocols. Further research is also warranted to evaluate the effectiveness of different protective strategies and to develop new technologies that can further reduce radiation exposure to healthcare professionals.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4067/s0034-98872013000100009, Alternate LINK

Title: ¿Es Suficiente La Protección Otorgada Por Gafas Plomadas En Cardiología Intervencionista?

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Revista médica de Chile

Publisher: SciELO Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID)

Authors: Claudio Zett-Lobos, Felipe Vera-Muñoz, Katerina Arriola-Alvarez, Oscar Díaz-Ramos, Jorge Gamarra, Cristian Fernández-Palomo, Lorenzo Merello, Alex D Mora, Alejandro Gutierrez, Mónica Catalán-Reyes, Sergio Ramos-Avasola

Published: 2013-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why is radiation exposure a concern in interventional cardiology?

Interventional cardiology utilizes procedures like angiograms and angioplasties that require X-rays to visualize blood vessels. This exposes healthcare professionals, specifically interventional cardiologists, to ionizing radiation. This is significant because prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation can lead to health issues like cataracts, especially posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataracts, which are a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. Therefore, monitoring and minimizing radiation exposure is crucial for the long-term health and safety of these medical professionals.

What are leaded glasses and why are they used in interventional cardiology?

Leaded glasses are designed to shield the eyes from ionizing radiation during procedures like angiograms and angioplasties. They contain lead, a dense material that attenuates radiation. Their importance lies in protecting the eyes from radiation-induced damage, such as cataracts. However, the effectiveness of leaded glasses depends on their lead equivalency; standard glasses with 0.25 mm lead equivalency may not provide adequate protection, as recent studies suggest. This is significant because if the glasses don't adequately attenuate radiation, healthcare professionals remain at risk, even with protective measures in place.

What is the role of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in radiation safety?

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) sets recommended limits for exposure to ionizing radiation. These limits are important because they define the levels of radiation considered safe for workers, including interventional cardiologists. The ICRP's guidelines aim to prevent adverse health effects from radiation exposure, such as cataracts and other radiation-related illnesses. If exposure exceeds these limits, healthcare facilities need to implement additional protective measures to ensure the safety of their staff. Failure to adhere to these guidelines can lead to significant health risks for those working with radiation.

What are thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and why are they used to measure radiation exposure?

Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) are devices used to measure ionizing radiation exposure. In the context of interventional cardiology, TLDs are placed on healthcare professionals, both in front of and behind protective gear like leaded glasses, to quantify the amount of radiation reaching their bodies. Measuring the radiation exposure using TLDs is vital to assess the effectiveness of protective measures and to ensure that staff members are not exceeding safe radiation limits as recommended by the ICRP. If the TLDs show high levels of radiation despite the use of protective equipment, it indicates the need for better safety protocols or more effective shielding.

What does 'attenuation' mean in the context of leaded glasses, and why is it important?

Attenuation refers to the reduction of radiation intensity as it passes through a material, such as leaded glasses. The attenuation provided by leaded glasses is important because it determines how effectively the glasses block radiation from reaching the eyes. If the attenuation is insufficient, a significant amount of radiation can still penetrate the glasses, posing a risk to the wearer. This implies that healthcare professionals might not be adequately protected, even when wearing leaded glasses. Enhanced safety measures and higher lead equivalency are required to improve attenuation.