Why can RF exposure from portable radio transceivers be harmful to the eyes?

RF exposure from portable radio transceivers can be harmful to the eyes primarily because RF heating may cause cataracts. The eyes are particularly sensitive to radio frequency energy, especially the lens, which can absorb RF energy and generate heat. This heating effect can potentially damage the lens cells and lead to the formation of cataracts, which is characterized by clouding of the lens and can impair vision.

Cataracts can develop when proteins in the lens clump together due to excessive heat exposure, leading to the opacification of the lens. Other options such as causing headaches or increasing overall sensitivity may be symptoms of RF exposure, but they do not directly pertain to eye damage as cataracts do. Similarly, while permanent vision loss may occur as a secondary effect of severe eye damage from RF exposure, the immediate concern related to RF and eye health is the potential development of cataracts due to RF heating. This makes the connection to cataracts the most direct and relevant explanation for why RF exposure from portable radios is considered harmful to the eyes.