Laser Eye Protection
Abstract
Laser applications have proliferated in recent years and, as to be expected, their presence is no longer confined to the laboratory or places where access to their radiation can be easily controlled. One obvious application where this is so is in military operations where various devices such as laser range finders, target designators, and secure communications equipment elevate the risk of exposure, specifically eye exposure, to unacceptable levels. Although the need for eye protection in the laboratory and other controlled areas has been appreciated since the invention of the laser, the use of lasers in circumstances where safety or the risk of temporary loss of vision, which can not always be ensured by administrative procedures, has made adequate eye protection essential. It is the critical nature of many military operations that has driven the search for eye protection against both nuclear and laser radiation. At the same time, the requirement to maintain useful vision during irradiation as well as advances in laser technology have complicated the problem enormously. Pertinent aspects of the problem, such as laser characteristics-- pulse width, repetition rate, laser wavelength tunability or agility, as well as effects on vision for various exposures have been estimated, as have the characteristics required of eye protective devices. Various classes of devices are discussed, and advantages and disadvantages noted. (kt)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA219659
Entities
People
- Jack A. Labo
- Michael W. Mayo
- Ralph G. Allen
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine