Some Measurements on the Diathermancy of the Human Eyeball, Its Media, and the Human Eyelid, in Addition to Observations of the Biological Effects of Infrared (Radiation)
Vogt, A.
Early measurements of eye tissue transparency to infrared radiation laid groundwork for understanding electromagnetic vulnerability of human vision.
Plain English Summary
This early research by Vogt measured how infrared radiation passes through different parts of the human eye, including the eyeball itself, its internal structures, and the eyelid. The study examined the eye's transparency to infrared energy, which is relevant to understanding how electromagnetic radiation interacts with one of our most sensitive organs. This foundational work helped establish how the eye responds to non-visible electromagnetic radiation.
Why This Matters
This research represents crucial early work on how electromagnetic radiation interacts with human eye tissue. The eye is particularly vulnerable to EMF exposure because it lacks the blood circulation needed to dissipate heat effectively, making it susceptible to thermal damage from infrared and other forms of electromagnetic energy. What makes this study significant is that it examined the eye's diathermancy - essentially how transparent eye tissues are to infrared radiation. This property determines how much electromagnetic energy can penetrate and potentially damage delicate eye structures. Today, we're exposed to far more diverse sources of electromagnetic radiation than when this research was conducted, from LED screens to wireless devices, making these foundational measurements more relevant than ever.
Figures from the Original Paper
Diagram extracted from the original research document.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
To determine the diathermancy of human eye media and the entire eyeball, as well as the diathermancy of the human eyelid.
Measurements were conducted using a thermosyule and an Engelmann galvanometer. The experiments invol...
The diathermancy of the human eye was measured through various experiments involving different eye p...
The study demonstrates that the majority of light reaching the retina is invisible infrared radiation (ultrarot), contradicting previous assumptions that ultrarot does not penetrate the eye. The diathermancy of different eye components varies significantly, with the cornea being the most permeable to light. The study also shows that glass, such as eyeglass lenses, only protects against longer wavelength ultrarot, not the shorter wavelengths that penetrate the eye. The findings suggest that the 'spring catarrh' is a thermal condition rather than a light-induced one. The study concludes that higher temperature light sources emit more penetrating ultrarot, and that the eye's permeability to ultrarot depends on wavelength, with shorter wavelengths penetrating more easily.
Show BibTeX
@article{some_measurements_on_the_diathermancy_of_the_human_eyeball_its_media_and_the_hum_g4111,
author = {Vogt and A.},
title = {Some Measurements on the Diathermancy of the Human Eyeball, Its Media, and the Human Eyelid, in Addition to Observations of the Biological Effects of Infrared (Radiation)},
year = {n.d.},
}