LASER INJURIES

File: 081996_jul96_decls76_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 3

Subject: LASER INJURIES                                                  

Box  ID: BX000429

Document Number:         12

Folder Title: TACTICAL OPERATIONS CENTER LOGS - MSG FILE LOGS 28 NOV 90                                       

Folder Seq #:         10

Unit: ARCENT      

Parent Organzation: CENTCOM     


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              A. LASER PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR PREVENTS OCULAR INJURY FROM
         LOW ENERGY LASER SOURCES. FIELDED BALLISTIC AND LASER PROTECTIVE
         EYEWEAR (B-LPS) PROTECTS AGAINST BALLISTIC FRAGMENTS AND SPECIFIED
         F'IXED WAVELENGTH LASER HAZARDS WHILE TRANSMITTING LIGHT REQUIRED FOR
         VISION. HOWEVER UNDER LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS LASER PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR
         MAY DEGRADE VISION/PERFORMANCE. EYEWEAR USED MUST BE APPROPRIATE FOR
         q'HE LASER WAVELENGTH PRESENT. LASER PROTECTIVE VISORS PROVIDE
         SIMILIAR BENEFITS.
              B. PASSIVE PROTECTION CONSISTS OF:
                    (1) TAKING COVER - GET OUT OF LASER BEAM; DO NOT LOOK AT
         T,qE LIGHT.
                    (2) USING ANY PROTECTIVE GEAR THAT IS AVAILABLE.
                          (A) PROTECTIVE GOGGLES.
                          (B) ORDINARY EYEGLASSES OR SUNGLASSES WILL AFFORD




         PAGE 03 RUDCHAA0822 UNCLAS
         VERY LIMITED PROTECTION.
                          (C) KEEP EXPOSED SKIN AREAS COVERED TO PREVENT BURNS.
             SYMPTOMS. THE MAIN OCULAR SYMPTOMS ARE REDUCTION IN VISUAL
         A(;UITY AND PAIN. SOLDIERS REPORTING BRIGHT FLASHES OF LIGHT, EYE
         DISCOMFORT, POOR VISION AND UNEXPLAINED HEAT SHOULD ALERT MEDICAL
         @'ERSONNEL. OBVIOUS LESIONS SUCH AS CORNEAL BURNS, RETINAL INJURY AND
         HEMORRAHAGE, AND SKIN BURNS MAKE THE DIAGNOSIS MORE CERTAIN.
         F'.iiNCEIVABLY, ONE MAY CONFUSE THE USE OF INVISIBLE LASERS WITH
         CHEMICAL ASENTS WHICH ALSO IRRITATE THE EYES AND SKIN (SEE FM B-285
US
         cl SIGNS AND                CHEMICAL
         FIRES AND UNEXPLAINED DAMAGE TO OPTICAL- INSTRUMENTS ARE ADDITIONAL
         t..vIDENCE THAT LASER DEVICES/WEAPONS ARE BEING EMPLOYED.
         NOTE:       REPORT ANY SUSPECTED LASER INJURY IMMEDIATELY TO
                     MEDICAL. CARE PROVIDERS AND TACTICAL COMMANDERS.
         4.   PHYSICAL FINDINGS.
              A. TEMPORARY (SHORT-TERM). BURNS OF THE SKIN AND CORNEA
         INDICATE LASER INJURY. SIGNIFICANT RETINAL HEMORRHAGE PROBABLY MEANS
         @'iAT A PULSED LASER IN THE VISIBLE NEAR-INFRARED SPECTRUM WAS USED.
         ISOLATED RETINAL BURNS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT HEMORRHAGE PROBABLY
         INDICATE THE USE OF A CONTINUOUS WAVE VISIBLE LASER. LOWER ENERGY




         F'AGE 04 RUDCHAA0822 UNCLAS
         V!SIBLE LASERS IMPAIR VISUAL FUNCTION WHILE THE LASER SOURCE IS
         VISIBLE. WHEN THE LASER EXPOSURE TERMINATES, VISION WILL RECOVER TO
         NORMAL WITHOUT CHANGES.
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Document 3 f:/Week-29/BX000429/TACTICAL OPERATIONS CENTER LOGS - MSG FILE LOGS 28 NOV 90/laser injuries:08169613362083
Control Fields 17
File Room = jul96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-29
Box ID = BX000429
Unit = ARCENT
Parent Organization = CENTCOM
Folder Title = TACTICAL OPERATIONS CENTER LOGS - MSG FILE LOGS 28 NOV 90
Folder Seq # = 10
Subject = LASER INJURIES
Document Seq # = 83
Document Date =
Scan Date = 25-JUL-1996
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 16-AUG-1996