Laser Blindness

[jfp999]

Hypothetically when getting shot in the eye with a green laser pointer off a reflection, will the blindness be instant or is it possible to slowly lose eyesight until your blind?

 

[rangedunits]

Hypothetically when getting shot in the eye with a green laser pointer off a reflection, will the blindness be instant or is it possible to slowly lose eyesight until your blind?

I guess, few minutes after the incidents occur, you get massive headache.

 

[jfp999]

Not really answering the question. Headaches are fine but eyesight is usually more important. I want to know if the blindness will be instant or may be over time.

 

[rangedunits]

Instant, and you may recover partially/totally from it.

 

[jfp999]

Good to know.

 

[brando132]

Why, did something happen...

When people say "hypothetically speaking, blah blah..." It's usually not hypothetical... lol.

 

[kevinmassey]

Actually it can get worse after a few days, or weeks. If you got hit in the eye you need to go to the eye doctor immediatly even if there is no obvious damage apperant at first.

 

[LSRFAQ]

Depends where it hits you and how much hits you, and what wavelength.

For 375-1200 nm or so, if the amount is over a certain threshold, there is damage, be it a direct beam or scattered light.

Intense Blue and Near UV that make it back to the retina adds up in a cumulative damage that does not show up until your older, or it you eat the wrong diet, or have if you have certain genes. (AMDG, Advanced Macular DeGeneration)

For UV, it might just damage the cornea or lens and never make it to the retina

For 1300-1500 nm IR communications lasers, again, it probably will not make it through to the retina and will damage the surface of the eye.

If it makes it through the lens and hits the optic nerve, you can lose sight in the whole eye.

A burn shows up in many ways. For intense lasers, the can eye fill with blood and burned tissue. A moderate burn may just be a black spot, either permanent or in some cases healing. Some small burns may never show up. Just stressing the eye may result in headaches or partial damage to color vision.

One way or another getting a even a low power visible beam into the eye or near the results in a sharp pain.

Steve

 

[pocketfluff]

One way or another getting a even a low power visible beam into the eye or near the results in a sharp pain.

Steve

The retina doesn't register physical pain does it? Or are you referring to the shock associated with a blinding flash of light.

 

[LSRFAQ]

The retina doesn't register physical pain does it? Or are you referring to the shock associated with a blinding flash of light.

The flash.

Steve