Balloon catheter dilation of the sinuses continues to gain acceptance as an emerging technique for treating chronic sinusitis. Now a new study indicates that the amount of radiation the eye lens is exposed to during the procedure is safe. Balloon catheter dilation of the sinuses, commonly known as balloon sinuplasty, continues to gain acceptance as an emerging technique for treating chronic sinusitis. Now a new study indicates that the amount of radiation the eye lens is exposed to during the procedure is safe.

The findings, presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Washington, DC, show that the lens of the eye can withstand up to approximately 29 minutes of the fluoroscopic guidance necessary for the procedure. The authors used mathematical modeling (estimates) based on previously published data to measure the radiation dose. This was used to estimate the tolerable length of radiation exposure in respect to the normal length of treatment.

The author notes that while this study indicates the level of radiation exposure is safe, further research is needed to corroborate these results in actual balloon sinuplasty.