For Patients and Families

What is brachytherapy?

Brachytherapy is a form of radiation therapy where a radiation source is placed directly on or very close to the area being treated. The word "brachytherapy" comes from the Greek word for "short distance." In eye care, brachytherapy involves placing a small radiation source on the outer surface of the eye (the sclera) to deliver radiation to a targeted area.

Brachytherapy has been used in eye care for decades. It is one of several treatment approaches that eye doctors may consider for ocular tumors and certain other eye conditions.

What is Y-90 brachytherapy?

Y-90 brachytherapy uses a type of radiation called beta radiation, produced by the isotope yttrium-90 (Y-90). Beta radiation penetrates only a few millimeters into tissue, which is a characteristic that may be important when treating areas near delicate eye structures.

Liberty Vision manufactures an FDA 510(k) cleared Y-90 radiation source called the LV Y-90 Disc, along with hand-held applicators called the iWand® that are designed to help the physician position the disc on the eye during treatment.

How is Y-90 brachytherapy designed to work?

The LV Y-90 system is designed as a single-session treatment. Based on published descriptions of clinical use, the general approach involves:

• The physician selects the appropriate LV Y-90 Disc size and activity level for the individual case
• The disc is assembled into the hand-held iWand applicator
• The physician applies the iWand to the treatment area on the surface of the eye
• Treatment duration is typically measured in minutes, based on the prescribed dose
• The applicator is removed at the end of the treatment session

For posterior eye conditions (behind the eye), the iWand P applicator features small guiding lights that help the physician confirm the position of the radiation source during treatment.

For anterior eye conditions (the front surface of the eye), the iWand A applicator features a transparent shield that is designed to allow the physician to see the treatment area during application.

How does this differ from traditional plaque brachytherapy?

Traditional plaque brachytherapy for the eye typically involves surgically attaching a small radioactive plaque to the outside of the eye, leaving it in place for several days while radiation is delivered, and then performing a second surgery to remove the plaque. Patients may be hospitalized during the multi-day treatment period.

The LV Y-90 system is designed as a hand-held, single-session approach. The iWand applicator is held against the eye for the treatment duration (minutes) and then removed — the system is designed so that no plaque is sutured to the eye and no second surgery is needed to remove a device.

Both traditional plaque brachytherapy and Y-90 brachytherapy are forms of ophthalmic radiation therapy. Your doctor can discuss which approach may be most appropriate for your specific situation.

What conditions have physicians treated with Y-90 brachytherapy?

The LV Y-90 Disc is FDA 510(k) cleared for episcleral brachytherapy of ocular tumors and benign growths. Physicians at academic medical centers have published their experiences using the LV Y-90 system in peer-reviewed medical journals, describing its use for several eye conditions including certain types of eye melanoma and conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma.

Published research involving the LV Y-90 system is available on our Publications page. Some publications were authored or co-authored by individuals affiliated with Liberty Vision Corporation; disclosures are noted with each publication.

Questions to ask your doctor

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with an eye tumor or growth, you may want to ask your eye care provider about available treatment options, including whether brachytherapy may be appropriate for your situation. Every patient's condition is different, and your doctor is the best source of advice about your treatment plan.