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Subject: LASER INJURIES                                                  

Unit: XVIII CORPS 

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box ID: BX000026

Folder Title: DUTY LOG G3 CORPS POLICY LETTERS DEC 90                                                         

Document Number:          5

Folder SEQ  #:         41










       AFZA-MD
       SUBJECT: Laser Injuries



               (3) Built-in/clip-on filters.

               (4) Battlefield smoke screen.


       5. Injuries.

          a. Glare. Low powered continuous wave (CW) or repetitively
       pulsed visible LASERS devices can produce a veiling or masking
       glare that is so bright that it is difficult to see anything
       around it (similar to that of oncoming headlights at night).
       The glare lasts only as long as the LASER is turned on or the
       observer is looking in the direction of the LASER. There is no
       permanent damage to the eye.

          b. Flash Blindness. CW or pulsed visible LASERS of
       moderate power may appear so bright that they saturate the
       .0hotoreceptors of than retina. There is a temporary loss of
       vision due to@@ persistent after-image (similar to the loss of
       dark adaptation after looking into a trip +lare or flashlight at
       night) Vision is reduced +or a period of time even after the
       LASER is no longer viewed. There is no permanent damage to the
       eye. The temporary loss of vision may result in loss of control
       of aircraft or vehicle and/or an.inability to see OPFOR
       movements.


          C. Retinal injury. CW or pulsed LASERS of higher power can
       cause permanent injury to the eye. Localized burns, edema
       and/or hemorrhaging may cause permanent or temporary loss of
       vision depending on the location and extent of the injury.
       Peristent vitreal hemorrhaging may require that an
       ophthalmologist perform a surgical p@ocedure called a
       vitrectomy. The major long-term effect of LASER retinal
       injuries is the scarring process which may degrade vision long
       (weeks/months) after the injury.

          d. Corneal injury. Ultraviolet and +ar-infrared radiation
       is absorbed by the cornea. Depending on the energy level injury
       may range from superficial burns (like an ARC welder's burn) to
 perforation. Types of injury include,

               (1) Circumscribed lesions of the retina edema, burns or
       holes.


               (2) Retinal hemorrhage (bleeding).

               (3) Vitreal hemorrhage (bleeding into the vitreous).

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Document 7 f:/Week-12/BX000026/DUTY LOG G3 CORPS POLICY LETTERS DEC 90/laser injuries:110496091430138
Control Fields 17
File Room = mar96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-12
Box ID = BX000026
Unit = XVIII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = DUTY LOG G3 CORPS POLICY LETTERS DEC 90
Folder Seq # = 41
Subject = LASER INJURIES
Document Seq # = 5
Document Date =
Scan Date =
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 = 04-NOV-1996