Visual disruption using the thermal lensing effect in the human eye: pilot study

Erica L. Towle; Paul V. Garcia; Peter A. Smith; Robert J. Thomas; Andrew K. Dunn; Ashley J. Welch; Brian K. Foutch

doi:10.1117/1.JBO.17.10.105007

15 October 2012 Visual disruption using the thermal lensing effect in the human eye: pilot study

Erica L. Towle, Paul V. Garcia, Peter A. Smith, Robert J. Thomas, Andrew K. Dunn, Ashley J. Welch, Brian K. Foutch

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 17, Issue 10, 105007 (October 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.17.10.105007

Abstract

At select wavelengths, near infrared (IR) light is absorbed in the preretinal media of the eye. This produces small transient increases in temperature that temporarily alter the local index of refraction. If the IR exposure is sufficiently high, a momentary reduction in the focusing power of the eye can be induced through an effect known as thermal lensing. Fundamental optical interaction and safety aspects of this phenomenon have been demonstrated previously in animal and artificial eye models. However, whether the effect will induce an observable visual change in human subjects has not been explored. Here, results of a pilot study are shown where eight human subjects were exposed to an IR laser at levels that were below the safe exposure limit. The exposures did induce a transient visual distortion if sufficiently high levels were used. While the description of the visual change varied between subjects, this experiment was able to determine a general guideline for power needed to induce significant effects in human subjects.

Citation Download Citation

Erica L. Towle, Paul V. Garcia, Peter A. Smith, Robert J. Thomas, Andrew K. Dunn, Ashley J. Welch, and Brian K. Foutch "Visual disruption using the thermal lensing effect in the human eye: pilot study," Journal of Biomedical Optics 17(10), 105007 (15 October 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.17.10.105007

Published: 15 October 2012

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

JOURNAL ARTICLE
7 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY