Thermal Model of Laser-Induced Eye Damage

Abstract

This report describes the development of computerized models for predicting the temperatures and thermal damage (protein denaturation) caused by the exposure of eyes to laser beams. The extent of thermal damage or the threshold level for thermal damage may be predicted either for the cornea, lens or retina of the eye -- wherever the energy deposition is greatest. Included is a description of the models and data for predicting the thermal damage to monkey and human eyes for known laser exposures. Model predictions were found to be in reasonably good agreement with experimental results for pulse durations ranging from about 10 to the minus 7th power sec to 1000. However, major discrepancies arise with pulses less than about 10 to the minus 7th power sec. With such short pulses, the predicted temperature rises are much too small to cause thermal damage. Therefore, some other damage mechanism at present unidentified, appears responsible for the damage caused by the very short pulse.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 08, 1974
Accession Number
ADA017201

Entities

People

  • A. N. Takata
  • J. K. Hinds
  • L. Goldfinch
  • L. P. Kuan
  • N. Thomopoulis

Organizations

  • IIT Research Institute

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Pigments
  • Biological Sciences
  • Epithelium
  • Eye
  • Heat Transfer
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Pulses
  • Lepidoptera
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Refraction
  • Refractive Index
  • Scattering
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy