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Radiation therapy to the brain or head increases the risk of eye problems or vision loss.
Source: Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: February 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
The risk of eye problems or vision loss may be increased in childhood cancer survivors after treatment with:
radiation therapy to the brain, eye, or eye socket
surgery to remove the eye or a tumor near the optic nerve
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certain types of chemotherapy, such as cytarabine and doxorubicin
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TBI, busulfan, and corticosteroids as part of a stem cell transplant
Having a history of chronic graft-versus-host disease after a stem cell transplant can also increase the risk of eye problems and vision loss.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice