Effect of Microwaves on the Rabbit Eye *

Abstract
Experiments are described in which the eyes of anesthetized rabbits were exposed at discrete frequencies in the range of 8 – 6.3 GHz. One eye of each animal was irradiated once, and the subsequent effects observed with specific emphasis on lens injuries. This work, done over a five-year period, gives results that compare the cataractogenic thresholds of CW and pulsed power at 5.5 GHz, determine the threshold ocular response to 0.8 GHz, and suggest how lens injury depends on the frequency of microwave power entering the eye. A simple coaxial adaptor that provided a means of achieving broadband exposures is described. In addition, similar work, done at 70 GHz with CW power, suggests the nature of the response of the eye to millimeter wave radiation.