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Laser Eye Protection |
The Personnel Protection Team conducts exploratory and advanced research to understand the interactions between optical radiation and protective materials and develops and transitions technologies that provide protection against optical radiation devices and weapons. The team:
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| Precision strike capabilities used by the Department of Defense (DoD) to minimize collateral damage are based on laser technology. The use of lasers for smart bombs, target illumination, ranging and designation, and secure communications is extensive and expanding. New applications for lasers in military operations and law enforcement are emerging. These low-power lasers can easily damage the eye or disrupt vision. Laser damage to the retina is permanent and cannot be treated. | |
| Outdoor laser light shows are creating flight hazards for commercial, law enforcement and military aircrews. These light show lasers are invading navigable airspace around airports, business districts and military installations. Lasers can temporarily blind pilots during critical phases of flight and jeopardize safety. | |
| Department of Defense research drives the development of Laser Eye Protection (LEP) technology, and has done so since the mid-1970s. The research sprang from the need to protect aircrew and ground personnel during training, and most commercially-available LEP resulted from this DoD - sponsored research. Department of Defense researchers still lead the way as they develop new technologies to provide adequate laser eye protection while meeting unique military requirements. Unlike LEP used in industry and medicine, military laser eye protection must be able to withstand shrapnel impact, ejection windblasts, environmental stresses (extreme temperatures, solar radiation) and scratching caused by operational use. These requirements, along with visual transmission properties, dictate the types of technologies that can be used for military laser eye protection. If the protection diminishes vision or impedes job performance in any way it won’t be worn, regardless of the safety hazards being faced. | |
| The Optical Radiation Branch leads the Department of Defense and private industry in understanding how LEP technologies and their physical specifications relate to visual performance and user acceptance. One unique aspect of our program is that human performance data derived from the laboratory, simulator use, and ground and flight tests drives laser eye protection specifications. |  |
| The Veterans Affairs Medical Center is collaborating with us in developing a computer model to predict how LEP specifications affect aircraft lighting visibility (avionics) and color discrimination. Recently, we transitioned a dye-based technology to the field that protects fighter pilots flying night operations (with or without night vision goggles) against near infrared (invisible) and visible (deep red) lasers. These visors were also preferred by the pilots over their current visors for sun protection and contrast enhancement. | |
| Optical Radiation Branch scientists and engineers are currently working to improve the transmission characteristics of laser-absorbing dyes, evaluate reflective (dielectric stack, holographic mirrors, and rugate filters) and hybrid technologies, and enhance LEP scratch resistance for polycarbonate hard- coating technologies. | |
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For further information on this program, contact Air Force Research Laboratory, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Directed Energy Division, Optical Radiation Branch, (AFRL/HEDO), Brooks AFB Texas, at : laser.safety@brooks.af.mil . |
| Last Modified: 21 May 2002 |
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