Laser Flash Effects: A Non-Visual Phenomenon.

Abstract

The 20 nsec Q-switched ruby laser exposures centered on the fovea produced no immediate changes in the grating visual evoked potential for 50 and 500 micron spot sizes at two energy levels even when visible changes occurred at these sites. The findings may have been the result of the ruby laser wavelength, which was near the visual sensitivity limit of the eye, or of the single Q-switched pulse which may have occurred too quickly to produce an immediate and/or sustained change in the cortical response. The observed delayed effects and subsequent apparent recovery of the VEP may reflect the development of edema at the laser exposure site resulting in the desynchronization of the response for a period of time. This is followed by apparent recovery which was interpreted as recruitment of the spared retinal elements with subsequent neural re-entrainment at the cortical level.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 18, 1982
Accession Number
ADA117429

Entities

People

  • David I. Randolph
  • Edwin S. Beatrice
  • Elmar T. Schmeisser

Organizations

  • Letterman Army Hospital

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Contrast
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Elements
  • Energy
  • Energy Levels
  • Frequency
  • Health Services
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Laser Pulses
  • Laser Safety
  • Lasers
  • Optics
  • Phase Shift
  • Rhesus Monkeys
  • Ruby Lasers
  • Visual Acuity

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy