Microwave-induced corneal endothelial damage was reported to have a low threshold (2.6 W/kg), and vasoactive ophthalmologic medications lowered the threshold by a factor of 10-0.26 W/kg. In an attempt to confirm these observations, four adult male Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) under propofol anesthesia were exposed to pulsed microwaves in the far field of a 2.8 GHz signal (1.43 +/- 0.06 micros pulse width, 34 Hz pulse repetition frequency, 13.0 mW/cm(2) spatial and temporal average, and 464 W/cm(2) spatial and temporal peak (291 W/cm(2) square wave equivalent) power densities). Corneal-specific absorption rate was 5.07 W/kg (0.39 W/kg/mW/cm(2)). The exposure resulted in a 1.0-1.2 degrees C increase in eyelid temperature. In Experiment I, exposures were 4 h/day, 3 days/week for 3 weeks (nine exposures and 36 h total). In Experiment II, these subjects were pretreated with 0.5% Timolol maleate and 0.005% Xalatan(R) followed by 3 or 7 4-h pulsed microwave exposures. Under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia, a non-contact specular microscope was used to obtain corneal endothelium images, corneal endothelial cell density, and pachymetry at the center and four peripheral areas of the cornea. Ophthalmologic measurements were done before and 7, 30, 90, and 180 days after exposures. Pulsed microwave exposure did not cause alterations in corneal endothelial cell density and corneal thickness with or without ophthalmologic drugs. Therefore, previously reported changes in the cornea exposed to pulsed microwaves were not confirmed at exposure levels that are more than an order of magnitude higher.