Abstract
Purpose: :
Biological potential hazards of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by GSM mobile have been the subject of controversy for decades. The proximity of a mobile phone to the human eye raises the question as to whether electromagnetic fields (EMF) affect the visual system which generates magnetic fields when stimulated with a variety of visual cues. This study aims to explore the long-term effects of EMF in structural and functional status of the macula.
Methods: :
Sixteen males aged 20 to 22 years old who were from the same location, and in the habit of using mobile phone (Nokia, 900 MHz) half an hour per a day during the past 5 years at least were enrolled. They had no systemic or ocular disease or complaint, and had 20/20 vision in both eyes with brown-colored irides. They underwent Fransworth Munsell 100 Hue test, recovery time for light discrimination at the foveola after photostress testing using Humprey® perimeter, central foveolar thichness (CFT) analysis by optical coherence tomography (OCT, StratusTM), and the macular pigment density analysis using image processing and analysis software written in Java programming language to make all of the images comparable to measure pixel intensity values. Each eye was tested randomly and separately, and evaluated by the examiner who was blind to the preferred site of the subject’s head for calling. Test results in both eyes were compared to elucidate the effect of laterality in EMF.
Results: :
Mean age was 20.6±0.65 years, and mean duration for mobile phone use 7.5±0.2.1 years. Results of all parameters measured were within the normal range in both eyes, and there was no difference between the eyes regarding FM 100 Hue values (p=0.85), CFT values (p=0.45), recovery time after the photostress (p=0.78), and mean gray values and modal gray values for the macular pigment optical density (p=0.51 and p=0.76).
Conclusions: :
Long-term exposure to 900 MHz emitting mobile phone seems to have no harmful effect in the macular structure and functions.
Keywords: color vision • macular pigment • macula/fovea