Transient visual effects of prolonged small spot foveal laser exposure. Report for January-March 1989

Technical Report · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5630747

Zwick, H; Robins, D O; Magsood, N

In recent experiments, the authors evaluated the effects of acute, threshold damage levels of small-spot foveal laser exposure. These experiments revealed transient changes in acuity and contrast sensitivity lasting from 10 to 15 minutes postexposure. Following recovery from such effects, normal acuity and contrast sensitivity are not necessarily degraded, although continuous exposure at these levels does result in parafoveal compensation for foveal damage and eventual deficit in fine visual acuity. Development of a test of foveal function during and after small-spot foveal exposure was the primary objective of this investigation. This objective was accomplished. At retinal damage levels, only a small focal foveal lesion was observed indicating the ability to utilize the fovea during such exposure. Post-exposure recovery effects analyzed for target size and contrast conditions suggest retinal and possibly cortical saturation processes.

• Research Organization: Letterman Army Inst. of Research, San Francisco, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5630747
• Report Number(s): AD-A-207945/7/XAB; LAIR-373
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LASER RADIATION
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RETINA
IMAGES
PROGRESS REPORT
RECOVERY
SENSITIVITY
TRANSIENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EYES
FACE
HEAD
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SENSE ORGANS
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects