Model for predicting the effects of laser exposures and eye protection on vision. Interim report, January 1989-January 1990

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6771346

Menendez, A R; Smith, P A

Laser safety standards and eye protection (filters) are designed to limit ocular exposures to prevent retinal lesions, yet eyesafe laser exposures can disrupt vision by causing glare and flashblindness. Protective filters can have opposing effects on vision function. They reduce laser exposures but also reduce task luminance and contrast. Filters alone may interfere with vision and consequently reduce work safety and performance. It is therefore important to be able to predict the effects of both laser exposures and protective filters to assess trade-offs between protection and visual function. This paper briefly reviews the methods, concepts, and experimental database used in our laboratory to predict laser, filter, and laser-plus-filter effects on tasks involving visual detection. The modeling approach uses estimates of the spatial distribution of light in the retinal image of the laser source to predict glare, flashblindness, and retinal lesions. It also considers the non-uniformity of visual abilities across the retina in predicting the impact of a laser exposure of a given size and retinal location. The proposed modeling approach provides a general framework for the interpretation, integration, and application of data from various studies. It has the potential to assess the effects of lasers and eye-protection devices on vision, and to guide visual simulations of the appearance of displays and scenes after laser exposures. The model is far from complete and is complicated by the number of variables affecting laser exposures, vision, and the role of vision in occupational tasks.

• Research Organization: School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6771346
• Report Number(s): AD-A-219697/0/XAB; USAFSAM-PROC--89-26
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EYES
FACE
FORECASTING
HEAD
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
ORGANS
PHYSICAL PROTECTION
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATIONS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SENSE ORGANS
SENSITIVITY
STANDARDS
VISION