Science & Technology

Beta radiation FAQs

Is beta radiation appropriate for eye treatments?
Yes. Beta radiation is a good choice for the treatment of eye conditions like wet AMD because it is possible to deliver a very focused dose directly to a problem area. However, the energy of the radiation quickly weakens with distance. Thus, a controlled amount of radiation can be delivered to an AMD lesion with minimal effect on the surrounding healthy parts of the eye.

How does beta radiation affect wet AMD?
Radiation has been shown to shrink eye tumors, and affects the abnormal blood vessels of wet AMD by slowing the development of new vessels and reducing inflammation. Feasibility studies of beta radiation for the treatment of wet AMD have shown great potential. The CABERNET clinical trial is now being conducted to study the safety and efficacy of beta radiation treatment in a larger population of patients with wet AMD.

How much radiation exposure will patients receive from the NeoVista procedure?
As described above, a targeted dose of beta radiation is administered directly at the site of the AMD lesion—but the energy will only penetrate about 3 millimeters (about 1/8 inch) and spread about 5 millimeters (less than 1/4 inch). The whole-body dose of radiation received by the patient is less than that of a typical chest x-ray.