Localized effects of microwave radiation on the intact eye lens in culture conditions

Dovrat A, Berenson R, Bormusov E, Lahav A, Lustman T, Sharon N, Schachter L

Bioelectromagnetics. May 10 2005

[Epub ahead of print].

A novel experimental system was used to investigate the localized effects of microwave radiation on bovine eye lenses in culture for over 2 weeks.

Using this setup, we found clear evidence that this radiation has a significant impact on the eye lens. At the macroscopic level, it is demonstrated that exposure to a few mW at 1 GHz for over 36 h affects the optical function of the lens. Most importantly, self-recovery occurs if the exposure is interrupted.

At the microscopic level, close examination of the lens indicates that the interaction mechanism is completely different from the mechanism-causing cataract via temperature increase. Contrary to the latter's effect, that is particularly pronounced in the vicinity of the sutures and it is assumed to be a result of local friction between the edges of the fibers consisting the lens.

Even if macroscopically the lens has recovered from the irradiation, microscopically the indicators of radiation impact remain.