DO MICROWAVE-OVENS AFFECT EYES

The cataractogenic effects of the microwave oven on rat eyes were inve stigated histologically. Twenty-one adult Wistar-Albino rats (2-2.5 mo nths old) were divided into three groups (n = 7): a control group (sha m-exposed) and two experimental groups. The experimental rats were con fined in special cages and placed next to the closed door of a microwa ve oven. The first experimental group was given 15 minutes of daily ex posure and the second. 30 minutes, for 1 month. Biomicroscopic examina tion detected no pathological damage to the lens in the experimental r ats. Histologically, there was a lens of single-layered epithelium in the control group. Tn the first experimental group. there was slight p leomorphism in the superficial epithelial cell contours and vacuolizat ions in the lens fibers: the second experimental group, had pronounced pleomorphism and pyknosis of the nuclei in the superficial epithelium . Some of the superficial epithelial cells had disappeared and were hi stologically observed as acellular areas, Single-layered epithelium be came disorganized and formed multilayered epithelial groups in the sup erficial epithelium. Vacuolization was more prominent in this group. P ersonal exposure from microwave ovens is generally minimal because of the rapid decrease in power density with distance. Microwave oven user s do not normally stand as close to the oven as the rats in our study were placed: therefore, it is difficult to suggest that microwave oven s always have cataractogenic effects on human eyes. (C) 1997 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.