Review of Research on Flash Blindness, Chorioretinal Burns, Countermeasures, and Related Topics

Abstract

The problem of flash blindness and chorioretinal burns resulting from exposure to the intense energy pulse from a nuclear fireball has been recognized as a potential threat to certain military and civilian population groups. The threat extends for many miles beyond the range where other immediate nuclear effects may be encountered. A considerable amount of research has been done to determine the thresholds for ocular effects and to develop countermeasures. However, additional efforts are required to assess the operational significance of visual impairment and to develop devices which will provide effective protection for larger population segments. Therefore, a need exists to disseminate critical information to various research and planning agencies. A comprehensive, unclassified review of this problem was prepared, including information from classified weapons test reports. This review includes data on energy production, transmission, and absorption, ocular effects, countermeasure devices, and the variables used to make operational assessments of visual impairment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 15, 1965
Accession Number
AD0732558

Entities

People

  • Benjamin C. Duggar
  • Dean W. Williams

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cameras
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Civil Defense
  • Electromagnetic Metamaterials
  • Electromagnetic Scattering
  • Explosives
  • Health Services
  • Light Sources
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Medical Personnel
  • Metamaterial Absorbers
  • Nuclear Explosions
  • Ophthalmology
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Quantum Yields
  • Retinal Diseases

Readers

  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.