laser weapon eye injuries

laser weapon eye injuries

Severe dazzling, after-image formation and blinding caused by military laser rangefinders, target designators, anti-optical sensor systems and anti-personnel laser weapons. Many military lasers in current use are capable of immediate permanent destruction of vision in both eyes by photocoagulation of the foveal regions to the retinas. This effect is made more probable because of the physiological mechanism that aligns the foveas on the object of regard. Protective goggles are effective only if they also eliminate useful vision.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005