PURPOSE: The annual permissible radiation ocular lens dose has been reduced to 
20 millisieverts (mSv) in the current European directive 2013/59/Euratom. The 
aim of this study was to evaluate the personal radiation dose for vascular 
interventions with special focus on ocular lens dose.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2016 to October 2016, the personal radiation 
doses of two interventionists and four technicians were prospectively recorded 
during 206 vascular interventions. The position of personnel, intervention type 
and fluoroscopy time were recorded. Parameters evaluated were total body dose 
measured by film dosimeter, hand dose measured by ring thermoluminescent 
dosimeter (TLD) and ocular lens dose measured by TLD placed in front of the 
safety glasses. Linear regression analysis was used to estimate the dose at 2 
and 5 years.
RESULTS: The ocular lens dose, hand and total body dose of the two 
interventionists were 11/5, 56/47 and 0.6 mSv each, respectively. The estimated 
5-year ocular dose was 113.08 mSv (95% CI 38.2-187.97)/40.95 (95% CI 16.9-64.7). 
Similarly, hand dose was 608.4 mSv (95% CI 442.78-774.38)/514.47 (95% CI 
329.83-699.10) and body dose 6.07 mSv (95% CI 4.70-8.22)/5.12 (95% CI 
3.65-6.59), respectively. Amongst four technicians, only the first assistant 
showed recordings of 0.3 mSv body dose, 2 mSv ocular lens dose and 5 mSv hand 
dose.
CONCLUSION: The yearly ocular lens dose, particularly for interventionists 
dealing with complex interventions, could cross the permitted yearly limit set 
by the new Euratom directive. Therefore, X-ray safety glasses would become 
mandatory for complex radiological vascular interventions.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, non-randomized controlled cohort/follow-up study.