Division of Vision Research for Environmental Health
Outline
"The Division of Vision Research for Environmental Health has been investigating environmental effects on ocular diseases. Currently, we are conducting research on the effects of electromagnetic waves, ultraviolet rays, environmental temperature, and radiation. Regarding electromagnetic waves, we have been examining the ocular tissue damage in the eyes of animal models exposed to wavelength-varying radiation occurring in everyday environments.
Since 2019, we have been conducting research on the threshold of eye damage from electromagnetic wave exposure under various environmental conditions. In order to strengthen the previous evidence backing the guidelines concerning exposure limits for millimeter-wave bands and to improve safety, we have been examining ocular damage from millimeter-wave exposure in numerous environmental conditions. We would like to promote utilizing the vast number of unused spectrum resources. Through our research, our goal is to contribute to the safe development of a society rich in advanced information. With regard to ultraviolet (UV) rays, we have measured ocular UV exposure using mannequins fitted with UV sensors. In addition, the division has evaluated the protective effectiveness of sunglasses and eyeglasses, and conducted ocular epidemiological surveys in domestic and overseas regions under various climatic conditions.
Through these studies, we are investigating the relationship between ocular UV radiation exposure and eye diseases such as cataracts, pterygium, and pinguecula. The studies also aim to investigate the effects of ocular UV exposure in childhood, and the association between environmental temperature and cataracts.
In 2013, the division launched a longitudinal study on the radiation exposure dose and incidence of lens opacity in emergency workers of TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Since 2015, the number of participants has expanded to approximately 20,000 people nationwide, and the study is still in progress.
Since 2020, the division has been involved with a research group that aims to contribute to the establishment of a revised dose limit for radiation exposure in eye lenses occurring in medical facilities. The group has been working to understand the conditions of exposure and the measures taken for the protection of eye lenses among medical professionals. The group is also trying to establish an appropriate method for estimating exposure doses. In this study, our division is in charge of the investigation of radiation cataracts."
Faculty
Professor (Additional Post)
Visiting Professor
KOJIMA Masami
Associate Professor (Adjunct, Additional Post)
Assistant Professor(Additional Post)
Research Achievements
- Hatsusaka N, Seki Y, Mita N, Miyashita H, Kubo E, Sliney DH, Sasaki H. UV index does not predict ocular ultraviolet exposure. Translational Vision Science and Technology 2021. [in print]
- Kojima M, Suzuki Y, Tasaki T, Tatematsu Y, Mizuno M, Fukunari M, Sasaki H. Clinical Course of High-Frequency Millimeter-Wave (162 GHz) Induced Ocular Injuries and Investigation of Damage Thresholds. Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves 2020; 41(7): 834-845. doi: 10.1007/s10762-020-00714-1. Epub 2020 June 11.
- Kodera S, Hirata A, Miura F, Rashed EA, Hatsusaka N, Yamamoto N, Kubo E, Sasaki H. Model-based approach for analyzing prevalence of nuclear cataracts in elderly residents. Computers in Biology and Medicine 2020; 126: 104009. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2020.104009. Epub 2020 Sep 19. PMID: 33011577.
- Kojima M, Tsai C-Y, Suzuki Y, Sasaki K, Tasaki T, Taki M, Watanabe S, Sasaki H. Ocular Response to Millimeter Wave Exposure Under Different Levels of Humidity. Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves 2019; 40(5): 574-584. doi: 10.1007/s10762-019-00586-0. Epub 2019 Mar 30.
- Tasaki T, Kojima M, Suzuki Y, Tatematsu Y, Sasaki H. Creating a Stable Short-term Housing Environment for Rabbits in a Cargo Van. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 2019; 58(4): 456-461. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-19-000004. Epub 2019 Jul 2. PMID: 31266583; PMCID: PMC6643087.
External Research Funding
- 2019-2021: SASAKI Hiroshi (Representative), “ Study of eye damage threshold of millimeter-wave exposure under various environmental conditions”, funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan [42.87 million yen]
- 2016-2018: SASAKI Hiroshi (Representative), “Quantitative investigation of influences on human eyes by THz electric wave exposure”, funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan [41.25 million yen]
- 2020-2021: SASAKI Hiroshi (Co-researcher), “Multiple research to promote the development of equipment for radiation protection and reduce exposure into the crystalline lens of the eye”, funded by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan [6.70 million yen]
- 2019-2021: SASAKI Hiroshi (Co-researcher), “Epidemiological research on the health effects of radiation workers”, funded by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan [79.42 million yen]
- 2015-2018: SASAKI Hiroshi (Co-researcher), “Epidemiological research in emergency workers at Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant”, funded by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan [40.00 million yen]