An investigation of early radiation damage in exposed eye-lenses of rainbow trout

Abstract

The objective of this work is to contribute to the study of radiation effects in non-human biota and potentially to the study of eye-lens damage in humans by investigating the effects of low-energy X-rays on the lenses of rainbow trout. Lenses were cultured and irradiated to doses up to 2.210 Gy with low-energy X-rays of 40 kV. Laser focal analysis was used to track changes in focal lengths across the lenses post-irradiation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether focal length variability (FLV) could give an indication of the early effects of radiation on lens health. Five dose points between 0.044 Gy to 2.210 Gy were observed. None of the groups showed differences in focal length variability compared to the control group (FLV of 0.14 mm ± 0.03 mm for the 2.210 Gy group compared to 0.13 mm ± 0.02 mm for the control group).