For children with retinoblastoma, one way to destroy cancer cells is with brachytherapy. Your child’s Retinoblastoma team may decide this is a treatment your child should receive.

What Is Eye Brachytherapy?

Eye brachytherapy is a way to give radiation to treat retinoblastoma. It uses radioactive seeds attached to a disk, called a plaque. This plaque is placed on the outside wall of the eye by the tumor. The seeds give radiation, which destroys the cancer. The plaque is removed after 3 to 5 days.

What Happens Before This Procedure?

A small number of radioactive seeds are placed in a gold plaque. Your provider will work with a radiation oncologist to make the plaque. The size of the plaque will be based on your child’s eye and the tumor. This helps protect healthy cells in the body.

What Happens During This Procedure?

1. It is done in the operating room while your child is asleep. Your child will be given medicine to help them be asleep.
2. Your child will be given eye drop medicine. This medicine dilates or makes the pupil bigger.
3. The plaque is placed on the eye very close to the tumor.
4. The plaque is kept in place for 3 to 5 days.

Care for Your Child While the Plaque Is Still in Place

Your child will wear an eye patch and a lead shield over their eye.  The shield protects others from being exposed to radiation. The patch and shield must stay on at all times. Your child may bathe but try not to get the patch and shield wet. Avoid activities that could cause injury to the eye.

What Happens During the Removal of the Plaque?

1. It is done in the operating room while your child is asleep. Your child will be given medicine to help them be asleep.
2. Your child will be given eye drop medicine. This medicine dilates or makes the pupil bigger.
3. Then the plaque is removed by your child’s provider.

Care for Your Child After the Plaque Is Removed

Your child will no longer need the lead patch. There will be no radiation coming from the eye anymore. A small patch will be placed over the eye. This will stay on until the next day. The eye may be red and swollen.  This may last 4 to 6 weeks. Your child may be given eye ointment to use. Use it as directed by your child’s provider.

What Are the Side Effects of Radiation?

Side effects like fatigue, loss of hair are not seen with this localized radiation. Your child’s provider will watch for changes that happen. They will talk to you about how to reduce these side effects:

• Damage to the retina or optic nerve.
• Eye bleeding or infection.