Analysis of Retinal Function Following Laser Irradiation.

Abstract

Exposure of the fovea to single or multiple pulses of coherent light (532 nm) can produce both transient and permanent changes in the eye's ability to resolve fine spatial detail. The immediate effects for extended duration exposures (>50 msec) are often large, producing acuity deficits as great as 90% of its pre-exposure level. The size of these deficits often reflect a total loss of foveal functioning although, depending upon the energy and duration of the exposure, these changes are reversible. Permanent changes in acuity can be noted in the absence of gross morphological damage and at power densities below the ED50 level provided the area of involvement is large. On the other hand, at power densities above the ED50 level, little if any permanent or consistent visual deficits are noted if the damage is restricted to relatively isolated areas within either the foveal or parafovea. Multiple pulses which increase the area of total involvement are more effective in permanently shifting postexposure acuity than are the single pulse conditions. Cumulative effects of repetitive exposures separate in time by as much as several al days are possible. The exact parameters of any observed loss in visual performance of course is dependent upon the discrimination task and its ability to depict subtle changes in the retina mosiac. Laser safety (MPE), Visual acuity, Nd/YAG, Rhesus monkey, Flash effects, Long-term visual deficits, Light-induced damage, RA 3.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 26, 1992
Accession Number
ADA255649

Entities

People

  • David O. Robbins

Organizations

  • Ohio Wesleyan University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Color Vision
  • Computers
  • Detection
  • Engineering
  • Gray Scale
  • Helium Neon Lasers
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Pulses
  • Laser Safety
  • Light Sources
  • Measurement
  • Medical Personnel
  • Optical Properties
  • Radiation
  • Students

Readers

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

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy