Ocular effects of mobile phone radiation

Abstract

: To find out the adverse effects of prolonged mobile phone radiation on the users’ eyes. : A convenience sample of 200 adults visiting our out-patient’s services with 20/20 vision was randomly recruited for this study. The ipsilateral eye on the preferred side during talking was considered as the preferred side and the other as non-preferred side. All participants underwent Schirmer’s test (S1T), Tear film break-up time (TBUT), central corneal thickness (CCT) and central macular thickness (CMT) measurements for comparison on both the sides. The approximate cumulative duration of the talk time (hours/day) while keeping the phone over the ear was recorded.: The mean age of participants was 25.1+5.4 years and 124 (62%) preferred to use the right ear for telephonic conversations. The TBUT (19 + 2.7 vs. 20 + 3 seconds), Schirmer’s (21.5 + 2.8 vs. 22.6 + 2.5 mm), p <0.001 for both and CCT (527 + 20 vs. 530 + 19µ) (p= 0.005) were significantly lower in the preferred side. Multivariable linear regression showed that speaking on the phone for longer periods lead to slightly lower ipsilateral TBUT (0.31 seconds lower TBUT with every 1-hour increment in talk time, 95%CI= -0.67 to 0.03 seconds, p=0.07)but not Schirmer’s values.: Mobile phone use affects the tear fluid dynamics (TBUT and S1T) and the corneal thickness of the eye. Thus, any of the radiations or thermal effect or both from the mobile phones can affect the eye and its structures. Further studies are needed to address these consequences.