W
Winfield Hill
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
Laser injures Delta pilot's eye,
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040928-111356-3924r.htm
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2418130
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/000595.htm
One reader of the Washington Times was skeptical, and wrote in:
Lasers' effects on the eye
As a physicist and laser researcher with experience working with
powerful lasers and the requisite safety considerations, I want to point
out likely inaccuracies in your Wednesday article "Laser injures Delta
pilot's eye" (Nation). Studies conducted to assess the danger to pilots
from outdoor laser beams show that the only lasers truly capable of
injuring pilots are certain infrared types that produce powerful pulses
of invisible light. This is the type thought to have injured Naval Lt.
Cmdr. Jack Daly. But because the light in these lasers is invisible,
the pilot cannot know an injury has occurred until he notices vision
problems. Visible lasers have not been found to be powerful enough to
cause damage at long distances.
There are reasons to think something other than the laser may have
caused Lt. Cmdr. Daly's injuries. The article states that the co-pilot
"felt a stinging sensation," "suffered a burned retina," but is not
likely to have permanent damage. This is inconsistent. Retinal burns
are painless but permanent. The retina does not have pain sensors, nor
does it have the ability to heal. So what really happened here? Using
past incidents as a guide, it's most likely that a powerful visible
laser beam flashed the cockpit briefly and surprised the pilots. This
happens occasionally and is extremely bright and unpleasant, though
there is no danger of permanent eye damage. The co-pilot may have
vigorously rubbed his eyes in response to this — a common reaction to
bright laser exposure — causing a corneal abrasion. Such abrasions do
sting, but they heal in a week or so.
MICHAEL POULTON
Research assistant
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Nebraska
Lincoln
There's also a discussion on alt.lasers, although I haven't read it.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040928-111356-3924r.htm
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2418130
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/000595.htm
One reader of the Washington Times was skeptical, and wrote in:
Lasers' effects on the eye
As a physicist and laser researcher with experience working with
powerful lasers and the requisite safety considerations, I want to point
out likely inaccuracies in your Wednesday article "Laser injures Delta
pilot's eye" (Nation). Studies conducted to assess the danger to pilots
from outdoor laser beams show that the only lasers truly capable of
injuring pilots are certain infrared types that produce powerful pulses
of invisible light. This is the type thought to have injured Naval Lt.
Cmdr. Jack Daly. But because the light in these lasers is invisible,
the pilot cannot know an injury has occurred until he notices vision
problems. Visible lasers have not been found to be powerful enough to
cause damage at long distances.
There are reasons to think something other than the laser may have
caused Lt. Cmdr. Daly's injuries. The article states that the co-pilot
"felt a stinging sensation," "suffered a burned retina," but is not
likely to have permanent damage. This is inconsistent. Retinal burns
are painless but permanent. The retina does not have pain sensors, nor
does it have the ability to heal. So what really happened here? Using
past incidents as a guide, it's most likely that a powerful visible
laser beam flashed the cockpit briefly and surprised the pilots. This
happens occasionally and is extremely bright and unpleasant, though
there is no danger of permanent eye damage. The co-pilot may have
vigorously rubbed his eyes in response to this — a common reaction to
bright laser exposure — causing a corneal abrasion. Such abrasions do
sting, but they heal in a week or so.
MICHAEL POULTON
Research assistant
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Nebraska
Lincoln
There's also a discussion on alt.lasers, although I haven't read it.
